OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the relationship between resilience, post-traumatic growth, depression, and anxiety in cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study included a total of 130 patients who were referred to the oncology service of a training and research hospital for chemotherapy. The data were collected using an information form, the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 51.65±15.94 years, 61.5% were male, 75.4% were married, 36.2% had reproductive system cancer, 80.8% were receiving chemotherapy, and 40.8% had previously received chemotherapy. A highly significant positive correlation was found between the patients’ PTGI total and subscales scores (p<0.05), while a low positive significant correlation was found between the patients’ BRS total, spiritual change, and relating to other scores (p<0.05). A moderately significant negative correlation was determined between the patients’ BRS total, depression, and anxiety scores (p<0.05) and a low negative significant relationship between the patients’ depression and spiritual change scores (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The patients had above-average post-traumatic growth and resilience scores and high levels of depression and anxiety. There was a moderately significant negative correlation between their BRS total, depression, and anxiety scores (p<0.05).