Hope and Spiritual Well-Being in Adolescents With Cancer

Abstract

This study examines the relationships of hope and spiritual well-being (SWB)--and its dimensions, religious well-being (RWB) and existential well-being (EWB)--to time since diagnosis among adolescents with cancer. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. The sample of 78 adolescents diagnosed with cancer was recruited from two pediatric oncology clinics. Adolescents in the first two time periods reported significantly higher levels of SWB, RWB, and EWB than those in subsequent time periods. Hope did not significantly vary over time. Hence, time since diagnosis may influence adolescents' levels of SWB and its dimensions during the cancer experience. Adolescents' use of SWB, RWB, and EWB as coping resources should be examined in longitudinal studies from diagnosis through survivorship.

Spiritual dimension of children and adolescents with cancer: an integrative review

“…From the analysis of the contents of the articles reviewed, four thematic categories emerged: quality of life and the elements of spirituality (8,14,(19)(20) ; alternative and complementary therapies: spirituality as a therapeutic resource (6,9,13,16,23,25) ; spirituality as a coping strategy (5,7,11,17,18,22,24) and spirituality as an attribute of the existential transformations (10,12,15,21) . Use of alternative therapies for children with cancer (6) Friedman et al…”

“…Spiritual care can include the use of simple therapeutic resources, often, common to the daily lives of patients, such as music and art (25) , even enabling quality of life in the dying process (9) . Therefore, the issues related to spirituality may reflect how important coping strategies during the illness enable the search for meaning and purpose in the life of patients (5) , in addition to influence in medical decisions and to delineate the elements of the experience of illness, from the time of diagnosis, suffering and death (10,(17)(18)24) . In this context, the Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents instrument was used to identify levels of hope in the adolescents living with cancer, and although the Spiritual Well-Being Scale is an instrument developed for adults, the survey enabled the identification of religious well-being and existential welfare of adolescents (18) .…”

“…Therefore, the issues related to spirituality may reflect how important coping strategies during the illness enable the search for meaning and purpose in the life of patients (5) , in addition to influence in medical decisions and to delineate the elements of the experience of illness, from the time of diagnosis, suffering and death (10,(17)(18)24) . In this context, the Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents instrument was used to identify levels of hope in the adolescents living with cancer, and although the Spiritual Well-Being Scale is an instrument developed for adults, the survey enabled the identification of religious well-being and existential welfare of adolescents (18) . Thus, spiritual thoughts can act as catalysts of inner strength that enable patients and family members to continue to live in the best possible way during the trajectory of cancer (7) .…”

The influence of spirituality in pediatric cancer management: a systematic review

“…[4] Spirituality will be defined during this study as "an attachment to or regard for things of the spirit as opposed to material or worldly interests" [5] and faith will be defined as "giving credit to, believing, trusting." [5,6] Haase [7] has proposed that hope and spiritual perspective are important to helping patients derive positive meaning from their cancer experience [8] and Palliative care seeks to relieve the emotional, social, and spiritual distress produced by these life-limiting conditions, to assist in complex decision making, and to enhance quality of life. [8,9,10] Parents who have a child with a life-threatening illness, such as cancer, are experiencing a tragedy.…”

“…[5,6] Haase [7] has proposed that hope and spiritual perspective are important to helping patients derive positive meaning from their cancer experience [8] and Palliative care seeks to relieve the emotional, social, and spiritual distress produced by these life-limiting conditions, to assist in complex decision making, and to enhance quality of life. [8,9,10] Parents who have a child with a life-threatening illness, such as cancer, are experiencing a tragedy. [2] From the moment of diagnosis, through the many treatment modalities, until remission or death, a parent is consumed with his or her child's illness, treatment, and finding a cure.…”