Precancer Risk Perceptions Predict Postcancer Subjective Well-Being

Objective: The present study used longitudinal data to explore whether subjective well-being in cancer survivors was related to predisease judgments of their likelihood of getting cancer. Method: Subjective well-being was assessed in terms of affective well-being (frequency of positive and negative affective states) and satisfaction with one's life overall. The sample consisted of 158 participants in the National Survey of Midlife Development in the U. S. (MIDUS) who developed cancer during the 8-10 years between the first and second waves of the survey (average time since diagnosis = 3.37 years; SD = 2.48), and 3,243 control participants who reported no history of cancer at either wave. Results: Controlling for demographic variables and well-being at Wave 1, the effect of cancer on well-being depended on whether, prior to being diagnosed, people judged themselves to be at low or high risk of cancer. For those perceiving a high risk, a cancer diagnosis had a modest but significant negative impact on affect and life satisfaction, whereas no negative impact emerged for those perceiving a low risk. Similar effects were not observed for heart attack risk perceptions, or for measures of trait optimism or depression, suggesting that the effect was domain-specific. Conclusions: Low precancer risk perceptions were associated with long-term benefits for subjective well-being in people who developed cancer.