Table 2.

Distinction between secondary and vicarious stress/growth responses.

Cancer survivors/significant others	Secondary posttraumatic stress/growth	Vicarious posttraumatic stress/growth
Does the significant other’s stress/growth result in definitive changes in their life?	This is a primary stress/growth and is more significant than for the survivor.	The degree of stress/growth is the same as for the survivor.
Who initiates and generates the stress/growth responses?	They are initiated by the significant other and how the fact challenges their identity.	They are initiated by the survivor’s PTG, which predicts, drives or affects the significant other’s PTG.
Are there asymmetrical processes of stress/growth transmission?	Stress and growth are parallel or symmetrical. The significant other’s stress and growth may be greater than the survivor’s.	Asymmetrical. From the survivor to the significant other, through observational, relational, modeling, transmission or imitation learning.
Are the sources and dimensions of stress/growth similar or different? Is there harmony and synchrony within the answers?	No. As they are independent processes, stress and growth may arise for different reasons and in non-shared dimensions.	Yes. Stress/growth arises from similar sources and dimensions. There is harmony and synchrony in the answers.
Importance of relational and family variables	They are not important. Stress/growth responses are autonomous and independent, and so are essentially an intrapersonal process.	They are the basis of the significant other’s stress/growth. These variables predict and mediate the changes in both the significant other and the survivor, as growth is an essentially interpersonal process.