Susan Bauer-Wu1, Carol J Farran. 1. Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. susan_bauer_wu@dfci.harvard.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: Incorporating holistic health perspectives, this study compared and examined relationships among meaning in life, spirituality, perceived stress, and psychological distress in breast cancer survivors (BCS) and healthy women. METHODS: Standardized self-report measures were completed once by all participants (N = 78). FINDINGS: Group comparison revealed statistically significant variances across the measures. Covariate analysis identified BCS without children had less meaningful lives and greater stress and distress than BCS with children and participants without cancer. Significant correlations (p > .001) between meaning in life and spirituality (r = .43), stress (r = -.39), and distress (r = -.41) were also identified. CONCLUSION: Personal factors (i.e., being a parent) may be especially important in BCS. Also, psychological and spiritual variables are highly correlated, suggesting the use of an integrated term psycho-spiritual functioning. IMPLICATIONS: Holistic nursing interventions can facilitate self-awareness, interpersonal connection, and living a meaningful life, particularly in vulnerable patients such as BCS without children.
PURPOSE: Incorporating holistic health perspectives, this study compared and examined relationships among meaning in life, spirituality, perceived stress, and psychological distress in breast cancer survivors (BCS) and healthy women. METHODS: Standardized self-report measures were completed once by all participants (N = 78). FINDINGS: Group comparison revealed statistically significant variances across the measures. Covariate analysis identified BCS without children had less meaningful lives and greater stress and distress than BCS with children and participants without cancer. Significant correlations (p > .001) between meaning in life and spirituality (r = .43), stress (r = -.39), and distress (r = -.41) were also identified. CONCLUSION: Personal factors (i.e., being a parent) may be especially important in BCS. Also, psychological and spiritual variables are highly correlated, suggesting the use of an integrated term psycho-spiritual functioning. IMPLICATIONS: Holistic nursing interventions can facilitate self-awareness, interpersonal connection, and living a meaningful life, particularly in vulnerable patients such as BCS without children.
Authors: A Karahalios; C Baravelli; M Carey; P Schofield; A Pollard; S Aranda; J Franklin; M Jefford Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 4.442
Authors: Allison J Applebaum; Maria Kryza-Lacombe; Justin Buthorn; Antonio DeRosa; Geoff Corner; Eli L Diamond Journal: Neurooncol Pract Date: 2015-12-08