To what extent does meaning mediate adaptation to cancer? The relationship between physical suffering, meaning in life, and connection to others in adjustment to cancer
- 25 October 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Palliative & Supportive Care
- Vol. 5 (4), 377-388
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s1478951507000570
Abstract
Objectives:This study builds on previous work that explored the lived experience of meaning in advanced cancer. The aims were to explore the associations of suffering (physical and existential distress) and coping (via social support) with psychological distress and global meaning using a battery of instruments among adults attending an Australian metropolitan cancer service (n = 100).Methods:The contribution of suffering and coping via social support to psychological distress and meaning were examined using a variety of statistical methods. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to further examine relative contributions to both psychological distress and global meaning.Results:Physical and existential distress were found to be positively associated with psychological distress whereas high social support and personal meaning are related to lower levels of psychological distress. Social support was the strongest correlate of global meaning whereas high levels of existential distress were related to lower levels of global meaning. On the basis of this study, it is concluded that the factors related to suffering clearly promote psychological distress, and the reverse is true for global meaning for those living with cancer.Significance of results:This study speaks to the clinical complexity of the dynamic experience of suffering and meaning in cancer. We need to better understand the impact of physical suffering and meaning in the lives of this population and to actively work toward the enhancement of social support and connection with others for this group. Optimal palliative and family-centered care blended with therapies that promote a sense of meaning of life lived appear crucial to ameliorate suffering.Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Hard Work of Living in the Face of DeathJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2006
- Meaning and its measurement in psychosocial oncologyPsycho‐Oncology, 2004
- High levels of untreated distress and fatigue in cancer patientsBritish Journal of Cancer, 2004
- Relationship of Functional Quality of Life to Strategies for Coping With the Stress of Living With HIV/AIDSPsychosomatics, 2003
- You want to measure coping but your protocol’ too long: Consider the brief copeInternational Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1997
- The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale: an instrument for the evaluation of symptom prevalence, characteristics and distressEuropean Journal Of Cancer, 1994
- Psychosocial Variables Associated with the Exceptional Survival of Patients with Advanced Malignant DiseaseThe International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 1987
- The Need for a New Medical Model: A Challenge for BiomedicineScience, 1977
- Loss and ChangeBritish Journal of Sociology, 1974
- Psychometric TheoryAmerican Educational Research Journal, 1968