Life goals in patients with cancer: a systematic review of the literature
Open accessAbstract
Objective: Purposes of this systematic review of life goal research in cancer patients were to (1) identify life goal characteristics and processes being examined, (2) describe instruments used to assess life goal constructs, (3) identify theoretical models being used to guide research, and (4) summarize what is known about the impact of the cancer experience on life goal characteristics, processes, and psychological outcomes. Methods: We conducted this systematic review using MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) published between 1993 and 2014, (2) English language, (3) cancer patient population, and (4) original research articles that assessed life goal characteristics and/or goal processes. One hundred ninety‐seven articles were screened and 27 included in the final review. Results: Seven life goal characteristics and seven life goal processes were identified, and less than half of studies investigated associations between goal characteristics and processes. Conceptual definitions were not provided for about half of the identified life goal constructs. Studies used both validated and author‐developed instruments to assess goal constructs. Twenty‐four different theoretical models were identified, with self‐regulation theory most frequently cited. Overall, the literature suggests that cancer impacts patients' life goal characteristics and processes, and life goal disturbance is related to poorer psychological outcomes. Conclusions: The impact of the cancer experience on life goals is an important and emerging area of research that would benefit from conceptual and theoretical clarity and measurement consistency. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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- Finding
Seven life goal process constructs were identified: self-efficacy, effort, pursuit, attainment, disturbance, loss, and adjustment.
“Seven different life goal process constructs were also identified: 1) self-efficacy, 2) effort, 3) pursuit, 4) attainment, 5) disturbance, 6) loss, and 7) adjustment.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Finding
Studies used both validated and author-developed instruments to assess life goal constructs.
“Studies used both validated and author-developed instruments to assess goal constructs.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Finding
Seven life goal characteristics were identified: content, life domains, importance, attainability, difficulty, temporal range, and intrinsic/extrinsic.
“We identified seven different life goal characteristics: 1) content, 2) life domains, 3) importance, 4) attainability, 5) difficulty, 6) temporal range, and 7) intrinsic/extrinsic.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Finding
Most studies were guided by at least one theoretical model, and 24 different theoretical models were explicitly identified.
“The majority of studies (n = 22) were guided by at least one theoretical model, but some (n = 5) did not specify a theoretical model, and several (n = 8) cited more than one (see Table 1).”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Finding
Life goal characteristics were assessed with validated questionnaires, author-developed questionnaires, and author-developed semi-structured interviews, while more than half of life goal processes were assessed using validated questionnaires.
“Life goal characteristics were assessed using validated questionnaires (n = 7), author-developed questionnaires (n = 7), and author-developed, semi-structured interviews (n = 6).”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified
- Finding
The review found that less than half of studies assessed both life goal characteristics and processes and their interrelationships.
“Less than half of studies (n = 10) assessed both life goal characteristics and processes and their interrelationships.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Finding
The most commonly studied life goal characteristic was content, and the most commonly studied life goal process was disturbance.
“The most commonly studied life goal characteristic was content (n = 10).”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Finding
The review identified seven life goal characteristics and seven life goal processes, and less than half of studies examined associations between goal characteristics and processes.
“Seven life goal characteristics and seven life goal processes were identified, and less than half of studies investigated associations between goal characteristics and processes.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Finding
Overall, the literature suggests that cancer affects patients' life goal characteristics and processes and that life goal disturbance is associated with poorer psychological outcomes.
“Overall, the literature suggests that cancer impacts patients’ life goal characteristics and processes, and life goal disturbance is related to poorer psychological outcomes.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Finding
Self-regulation theory was the most frequently used theory among the studies.
“Self-regulation theory (SRT) was the most frequently used theory (n = 8)[6].”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified0 of 1 sources checked- cites [6] source
Not checked in the free run.
- Finding
The literature often failed to provide conceptual definitions for about half of the identified life goal constructs.
“Conceptual definitions were not provided for about half of the identified life goal constructs.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Finding
The Goal Adjustment Scale was the most commonly used instrument for goal processes and assessed goal disengagement and reengagement.
“The most commonly used instrument for goal processes was the Goal Adjustment Scale[14] (n = 5), which assessed two separate processes: goal disengagement and reengagement.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified0 of 1 sources checked- cites [14] source
Not checked in the free run.
- Finding
The review identified 24 different theoretical models, with self-regulation theory cited most frequently.
“Twenty-four different theoretical models were identified, with self-regulation theory most frequently cited.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Method
The initial electronic database search yielded 353 articles and reference list review yielded an additional 20 articles.
“The initial electronic database search yielded 353 articles, and subsequent reference list review yielded an additional 20 articles (Figure 1).”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Background
The cancer experience can affect the characteristics of individuals' life goals.
“The cancer experience can affect the characteristics of individuals’ life goals[9].”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified0 of 1 sources checked- cites [9] source
Not checked in the free run.
- Method
The review aimed to identify life goal characteristics and processes examined in cancer patients, describe instruments used to assess life goal constructs, identify theoretical models guiding the research, and summarize what is known about cancer's impact on life goals and psychological outcomes.
“Purposes of this systematic review of life goal research in cancer patients were to: 1) identify life goal characteristics and processes being examined, 2) describe instruments used to assess life goal constructs, 3) identify theoretical models being used to guide research, and 4) summarize what is known about the impact of the cancer experience on life goal characteristics, processes, and psychological outcomes.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Method
The authors define goal characteristics as ways of describing goals, including content, life domains, importance, difficulty, attainability, intrinsic/extrinsic, and temporal range.
“Goal characteristics refer to ways of describing goals, including: goal content, life domains, importance, difficulty, attainability, intrinsic/extrinsic, and temporal range[8].”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified0 of 1 sources checked- cites [8] source
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- Method
The review screened 197 articles and included 27 in the final review.
“One-hundred ninety-seven articles were screened and 27 included in the final review.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Background
The time commitment required for treatment can negatively affect patients' ability to pursue their life goals.
“Further, the time commitment required for treatment can negatively impact patients’ abilities to pursue their life goals[3].”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified0 of 1 sources checked- cites [3]
Not checked in the free run.
- Background
Successful life goal pursuit is important for positive well-being and psychological adjustment to chronic illness.
“Successful life goal pursuit is important for positive well-being[4] and psychological adjustment to chronic illness[5].”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified0 of 2 sources checked - Method
The review included English-language original research articles published between 1993 and 2014 that assessed life goal characteristics and goal processes in adult cancer patients.
“We searched for English language, original research articles published between 1993 and 2014, which assessed life goal characteristics and goal processes in adult cancer patients.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Background
Cancer and its treatment can significantly disrupt patients' life goals.
“Cancer and its treatment can significantly disrupt patients’ life goals[2].”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified0 of 1 sources checked- cites [2] source
Not checked in the free run.
- Method
The data extraction table included study design, age, cancer type, theoretical model, goal characteristics, goal processes, and relevant results.
“Based on study questions, a table was developed for data extraction and included the following seven categories: study design, age, cancer type, theoretical model, goal characteristics, goal processes, and relevant results.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified - Method
The review searched MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO and included English-language original research articles published from 1993 to 2014 on cancer patients that assessed life goal characteristics and/or goal processes.
“We conducted this systematic review using MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. Inclusion criteria were: 1) published between 1993 and 2014, 2) English language, 3) cancer patient population, and 4) original research articles that assessed life goal characteristics and/or goal processes.”
Quote in the paperNot yet classified
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Young adult cancer survivors face physical, mental, social, educational, occupational, and financial consequences from cancer and its treatment.
“their survivorship journey entails managing the physical and mental health, social, educational, occupational, and financial consequences of cancer diagnosis and treatment [2-6].”
From A digital, coach-assisted intervention to address the psychosocial needs of young adult cancer survivors: Randomized controlled trial protocol and intervention adaptation process (2024) · cites this paper as [3]
The Background describes treatment-related fatigue and pain interfering with survivors’ return to work and social activities. The Results and Conclusions report poorer psychological outcomes associated with disrupted life goals and greater goal disturbance in younger patients. The paper does not establish the educational or financial consequences attributed to it; page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThere is a pressing need for interventions addressing YA survivors' psychosocial concerns to enhance quality of life across the lifespan.
“Given the increasing number of YA survivors [1] and the impacts of cancer across various aspects of life, particularly among YAs [2-6, 8], there is a pressing need for interventions addressing YA survivors’ psychosocial concerns in order to enhance quality of life across the lifespan [7].”
From A digital, coach-assisted intervention to address the psychosocial needs of young adult cancer survivors: Randomized controlled trial protocol and intervention adaptation process (2024) · cites this paper as [3]
The Conclusions (page unavailable) say cancer disrupts younger adults’ life goals more than older adults’ and propose research to inform interventions that could improve patients’ life goals and psychological outcomes. The paper does not specifically call for urgent psychosocial interventions for young adult survivors or establish that such interventions enhance quality of life across the lifespan. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredHope is associated with enhanced mental health and quality of life in cancer survivors.
“and in cancer survivors [3, 16, 21-27]”
From A digital, coach-assisted intervention to address the psychosocial needs of young adult cancer survivors: Randomized controlled trial protocol and intervention adaptation process (2024) · cites this paper as [3]
The Results and Conclusions discuss associations between life-goal pursuit and psychological outcomes in cancer patients, while the Background mentions quality of life in relation to treatment disruption. Searches for hope and quality of life found no passage linking hope to either mental health or quality of life in cancer survivors. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.75)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredYoung adult cancer survivors report more life goal disturbances than older cancer patients, and these disturbances are linked to negative psychological outcomes.
“compared to older patients, young adult cancer survivors (YACS) report more life goal disturbances [2], which are related to negative psychological outcomes [2].”
From A Hope-based intervention to address disrupted goal pursuits and quality of life among young adult cancer survivors (2020) · cites this paper as [2]
This study highlights the potential utility of positive psychology constructs, particularly hope, in supporting YACS cope with cancer-related sequelae and re-establish goals across life domains after cancer, a relevant challenge facing many cancer survivors, particularly in young adulthood.
“Moreover, this study highlights the potential utility of positive psychology constructs, particularly hope, in supporting YACS cope with cancer-related sequelae and re-establish goals across life domains after the cancer experience, a particularly relevant challenge facing many cancer survivors, particularly in young adulthood [2].”
From A Hope-based intervention to address disrupted goal pursuits and quality of life among young adult cancer survivors (2020) · cites this paper as [2]
Current findings, along with prior studies, suggest that hope is a highly relevant and potentially impactful intervention target, particularly for YACS, and could be addressed through a scalable intervention such as AWAKE.
“Current findings, along with findings of these other studies, suggest that hope is a highly relevant and potentially impactful intervention target, particularly for YACS [2], and could be addressed through a scalable intervention such as AWAKE.”
From A Hope-based intervention to address disrupted goal pursuits and quality of life among young adult cancer survivors (2020) · cites this paper as [2]
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- Authors
- Hullmann, S. E., Robb, S. L., & Rand, K. L.
- Affiliations
- Indiana University Indianapolis (US)
- Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hullmann, Stephanie E.
- Venue
- Psycho-Oncology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-05-19
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 387-399
- ISSN
- 1057-9249 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1611
- PMC
- PMC4653098
- OpenAlex
- W1559235859
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 0.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Psycho-Oncology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (R25-CA117865)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Keywords
- life goals, cancer patients, self-regulation theory, psychological outcomes, cancer experience
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Attitude to Health, Goals, Humans, Life Change Events, Neoplasms, Quality of Life
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