Chapel Hill, NC – A small study by researchers from the UNC Chapel Hill Department of Exercise and Sport Science and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that breast cancer survivors participating in recreation therapy can use the experience to facilitate spiritual growth and enhance their overall well being.

The study, published in the journal Leisure, evaluated the experiences of six women who had completed breast cancer treatment in the last six months and who were participating in the Get REAL & Heel program. The Get REAL & Heel program integrates individualized prescriptive exercise with recreational therapy with the goal of helping each participant manage cancer treatment related symptoms and increase chances of survivorship and quality of life.

The authors documented participants’ feedback on the recreational therapy component of the program and evaluated the feedback using content analysis. They related the cancer survivors’ feedback to five attributes of spirituality identified in the scientific literature: meaning, values, transcendence, connecting and becoming.

Although the researchers found that spirituality was not for all participants in the program, for some breast cancer survivors, recreational therapy and leisure activities helped them reflect on these spiritual attributes and define their place in their lives as they recovered from the life-changing upheaval of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Without prompting, participants described how the activities they participated in with Get REAL & Heel related to the five attributes and their experience of moving beyond treatment and “creating a new normal” as a breast cancer survivor.

“We use a concept in Get REAL & Heel called the Leisure and Well-Being model, which focuses on gratitude, appreciation, authenticity, mindfulness and virtuosity in leisure activities. This preliminary study suggests that this model offers a way for participants to build the individual and community supports that allow a person to meet the challenge of cancer,” said Diane Groff, associate professor of Exercise and Sports Science and UNC Lineberger member.

“Many questions remain, but this study provided evidence that the program’s focus on these dimensions of leisure was helpful across multiple dimensions of spirituality for those survivors who found the concept of spirituality helpful.”

Along with Groff, study participants included assistant professor Claudio Battaglini from the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Battaglini is also a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Other investigators included Cari Sypes from Galloway Ridge, Cathy O’Keefe from the University of South Alabama and Jeffrey Peppercorn from Duke University Health System.

This research was supported in part by the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the NC Triangle Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.