Predictors and Impact of Disclosure Efficacy Among Cancer Survivors

Cancer survivors who disclose their cancer diagnosis and cancer-related experiences derive a variety of benefits including enhanced quality of life. Given this, it would be helpful to better understand the factors that facilitate disclosure among survivors. Disclosure efficacy-confidence that one can successfully execute a self-disclosure-may play a key role.

In Study 1, survey data were analyzed to identify potential predictors of disclosure efficacy among cancer survivors and whether disclosure efficacy predicts intention to self-disclose in the future. In Study 2, a randomized, controlled design was used to evaluate whether psychoeducation about self-disclosure boosts disclosure efficacy.

Data were analyzed from 181 cancer survivors who participated in a cross-sectional, online survey study (Study 1) and randomized controlled test of disclosure-related psychoeducational material (Study 2).

The results from Study 1 indicated that, as hypothesized, having engaged in more cancer-related disclosure in the past predicted higher levels of disclosure efficacy (though response to prior disclosures did not) and greater disclosure efficacy predicted greater intention to disclose again in the future. The results from Study 2 did not demonstrate that reading psychoeducational information on self-disclosure enhanced disclosure efficacy. However, exploratory analyses indicated that those receiving this information reported greater intention to engage in three of the four recommended, empirically based disclosure strategies.

Findings underscore the role of disclosure efficacy in facilitating cancer-related disclosure among cancer survivors. Likewise, findings suggest the utility of developing interventions that enhance disclosure efficacy and provide opportunities for behavioral rehearsal of cancer-related disclosures.