Spanish Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Cancer

The MLQ is a self-reported questionnaire made up of 10 items, and it was developed to assess the two main dimensions of meaning in life: presence and search for meaning in life. The items are rated on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (absolutely false) to 7 (absolutely true). The factors of Presence and Search were correlated (r = -.19), and internal consistency was good for Presence (.86) and Search (.87). One-month test-retest reliability coefficients were .70 for Presence and .73 for Search.

The MEMS assesses the meaning in life dimensions: Comprehension, purpose, and mattering, with a total of 15 items. Likert type responses are given on a 7-point scale (1 = Very strongly disagree; 7 = Very strongly agree). The three MEMS subscales showed adequate internal consistency: Comprehension (ϖ = 91), Purpose (ϖ = 92), and Mattering (ϖ = 86).

The OASIS is a five-item instrument that assesses the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms during the past week. In addition, it measures interference in work and academic, social, and daily life domains, as well as avoidance behaviors. The items are rated on a Likert-type scale (0-4). The psychometric properties are good in terms of internal consistency (α= 0.86), convergent and discriminant validity, and sensitivity to change (α= 0.86).

The ODSIS is a six-item questionnaire that assesses the frequency and intensity of depression symptoms during the past week. In addition, it measures interference in work and academic, social, and daily life domains, as well as avoidance behaviors. The items are rated on a Likert-type scale (0-4). The psychometric properties are good in terms of internal consistency (α= 0.93).

It is a questionnaire that measures the level of hopelessness. It is made up of 20 items with dichotomous responses (True or False). It presents adequate internal consistency (α= 0.93) and has been validated in the Spanish population [39].

The questionnaire includes 20 adjective items, 10 assessing positive affect (PANAS-P) and 10 assessing negative affect (PANAS-N). Respondents are asked to rate the extent to which they experienced each emotion within a specified time period, using a 5-point scale (1 = Very slightly or not at all; 5 = Very much). Both affect subscales showed adequate internal consistency: PANAS-P, (α = .89) and PANAS-N (α = .91.)

It is a 10-item index of perceived quality of life. It refers to physical and emotional well-being, functioning at work, personal relationships, self-independence, support in the community and from an emotional point of view, spiritual well-being, and overall perceived quality of life. The items are rated on a Likert scale (0-10) where higher scores indicate higher perceived quality of life. The psychometric properties are good for both internal consistency (α = .89) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.87).

This scale was designed and developed by members of the research team, based on an adaptation of another opinion and expectations questionnaire. The constructs this scale assesses are: opinion, acceptance and satisfaction with the skills training program, and changes in the participants after completing each module. The questions refer to the rationale for the intervention, recommendations for the program, satisfaction with the program, and usefulness and expectations of the skills training. The items are rated on a Likert-type scale ranging from 0 "Not at all" to 10 "Very much".

This scale evaluates the different ways of coping in cancer patients. It is a self-rating questionnaire made up of 29 items that measure five dimensions of coping: fighting spirit, helplessness-hopelessness, anxious preoccupation, fatalism, and cognitive avoidance. The items are rated on a Likert scale (1-4). The Spanish version of the MINIMAC [46] showed good psychometric properties for all the subscales (fighting spirit α = .60, helplessness-hopelessness α = .82, anxious preoccupation α = .90, fatalism α = .70, and cognitive avoidance α = .80).

. The PTGI is a 21-item questionnaire that assesses the perception of personal benefits in survivors of a traumatic event. A Likert response format with six categories is used, with scores ranging from 0 (no change) to 5 (very high degree of change) in a positive sense; the higher the score, the greater the change perceived. The PTGI is composed of five dimensions: Relating to others, New possibilities, Personal strength, Spiritual change and a better understanding of spiritual matters and stronger religious beliefs, and a new appreciation of life. The PTGI shows good internal consistency (α = .80).