Relationship between Meaning of Life, Self- Compassion and sense of coherence with perceived stress in cancer patients

Introduction: One of the main issues facing cancer patients is stress and anxiety due to encountering the disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between meaning of life, self-compassion and sense of coherence with perceived stress in cancer patients. Method: In this descriptive-correlational study, 120 cancer patients who were admitted and treated in blood and oncology department of Imam Khomeini hospital of Ardabil in 2019 were selected as target sample. Data collection tools consisted of perceived stress scale, meaning of life questionnaire, self-compassion scale and sense of coherence questionnaire-form of 13 items. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis in SPSS21 statistical software. Results: There was a negative and significant relationship between the perceived stress of cancer patients with the sense of coherence (β=-0/540: p<0/001), self-compassion (β=-0/196: p<0/010) and meaning of life (β=-0/192: p<0/017). The meaning of life, self-compassion and sense of coherence predicted 74% of variance of perceived stress scores of cancer patients (p<0/01). Conclusion: High levels of meaning of life, self-compassion and sense of coherence can reduce the perceived stress of cancer patients. Improving and enhancing the meaning of life, self-compassion and sense of cohesion can make patients adapt to the disease and improve the treatment process in these patients.