Emma Keane, BA

Positive affect and flourishing have been studied extensively in medical populations, yet few studies have examined their association with quality of life (QOL) and psychological distress symptoms in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) survivors. We used a cross-sectional secondary analysis of baseline data from 155 allogeneic HSCT recipients at a tertiary academic cancer center from September 2021-December 2022. We used the Positive Affective Scale, Flourishing Scale, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist — Civilian version to measure positive affect, flourishing, QOL, depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, respectively. We used multivariate analysis to assess the association between positive affect, flourishing, QOL, and mood. After controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors, positive affect was significantly associated with enhanced QOL (Beta=1.0788; p<0.001) and decreased anxiety (Beta=-0.170; p<0.001), depression (Beta=-0.234; p<0.001), and PTSD symptoms (Beta=-0.516; p<0.001). Flourishing was significantly associated with enhanced QOL (Beta=1.366; p<0.001) and decreased anxiety (Beta=-0.159; p<0.001), depression (Beta=-0.222; p<0.001), and PTSD symptoms (Beta=-0.141; p<0.001). Positive affect and flourishing are linked with QOL and psychological distress symptoms in allogeneic HSCT survivors. Larger prospective studies which rigorously characterize these positive psychological well-being states and their impact on outcomes are needed.