The effects of spirituality on well-being of people with lung cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of spirituality on the sense of well-being of people with lung cancer. DESIGN Descriptive, correlational study. SETTING Urban and rural oncology and radiation centers. SAMPLE 60 adults ranging from 33-83 years of age. Most participants had non-small cell lung cancer and were female, Caucasian, and older than 50. METHODS Participants completed a questionnaire composed of six survey instruments: Life Attitude Profile-Revised, Adapted Prayer Scale, Index of Well-Being, Symptom Distress Scale, a background information sheet, and a cancer characteristics questionnaire. Correlations among study concepts were examined, and multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effects of spirituality. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Meaning in life, prayer activities and experiences, symptom distress, and psychological well-being. FINDINGS Higher meaning in life scores were associated with higher psychological well-being and lower symptom distress scores. Higher prayer scores were associated with higher psychological well-being scores. Regression analysis indicated that meaning in life mediated the relationship between functional status and physical responses to lung cancer and explained 9% of the variance in symptom distress. Prayer mediated the relationship between current physical health and psychological responses and explained 10% of the variance in psychological well-being. CONCLUSIONS Aspects of spirituality, meaning in life, and prayer have positive effects on psychological and physical responses in this group of people with lung cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING This research provides knowledge about spirituality and sense of well-being to guide the care of people with lung cancer.