Spirituality and the recovery of quality of life following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Abstract

Objective Spirituality has been linked to improved adjustment and functioning in individuals with cancer; however, its effect on quality of life following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been well-studied. This study investigated changes in spirituality in hematologic cancer patients recovering from HSCT and relationships between spirituality and dimensions of quality of life following HSCT. Methods Participants (N = 220) completed measures of two dimensions of spirituality (meaning/peace and religious faith), depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain, and physical and functional well-being prior to transplant and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-transplant. Results Meaning/peace declined at 1 month post-transplant and returned to pre-transplant levels by 6 months post-transplant, and faith increased from pre-transplant to 6 months post-transplant. Mixed-effects linear regression models indicated that greater pre-transplant meaning/peace, but not religious faith, predicted less depression, anxiety, and fatigue, and better physical and functional well-being during the 12 months following transplant. Conclusions The capacity to find meaning and peace may facilitate recovery following HSCT. Results suggest that spirituality may be a resilience factor that could be targeted to improve quality of life for HSCT recipients.

Fate control and well-being in Chinese rural people living with HIV: mediation effect of resilience

“…We developed a psychological intervention tailored for Chinese rural PLHIV that effectively enhanced their resilience, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life (Yu et al, 2014). Although the resilience research has documented affective, cognitive, and behavioral concomitants (Mak, Ng, & Wong, 2011;Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004), little has been investigated about spiritual belief (Klasen et al, 2010;Leeson et al, 2014).…”

Trajectories of spiritual well‐being in long‐term survivors of cancer: A report from the American Cancer Society's Studies of Cancer Survivors–I

“…There have been a few longitudinal studies assessing R/S with the FACIT‐Sp in patients with cancer . In addition, a number of studies have measured SWB with the FACIT‐Sp over time as an outcome following some type of psychosocial intervention .…”

“…There have been a few longitudinal studies assessing R/S with the FACIT-Sp in patients with cancer. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26] In addition, a number of studies have measured SWB with the FACIT-Sp over time as an outcome following some type of psychosocial intervention. [27][28][29][30][31][32][33] Generally, higher scores on the FACIT-Sp have been predictive of or associated with better HRQOL; however, no clear patterns of change in Meaning, Peace, and Faith over time are apparent.…”

Changes in spiritual well‐being and psychological outcomes in ovarian cancer survivors

“…A national survey in the United States indicates that patients with cancer report an increased role of spirituality and religion in their lives between prediagnosis and a median of 10 years postdiagnosis . Change in a sense of meaning/peace has been related to decreased depression over time in breast cancer patients after diagnosis and in hematopoetic cancer patients after stem cell transplantation . Another study of cancer patients about 3.5 years after diagnosis showed that greater changes in a sense of meaning/peace measured over 1 year were associated with better mental health and lower distress at follow‐up, while faith was only related to perceived growth .…”

“…12 Change in a sense of meaning/peace has been related to decreased depression over time in breast cancer patients after diagnosis and in hematopoetic cancer patients after stem cell transplantation. 13,14 Another study of cancer patients about 3.5 years after diagnosis showed that greater changes in a sense of meaning/peace measured over 1 year were associated with better mental health and lower distress at follow-up, while faith was only related to perceived growth. 15 No studies have examined differential effects of changes in meaning versus peace with respect to their effects on mood.…”