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Symons X, Rhee J, Tanous A, Balboni T, VanderWeele TJ. Flourishing at the end of life. THEORETICAL MEDICINE AND BIOETHICS 2024; 45:401-425. [PMID: 39162937 PMCID: PMC11358345 DOI: 10.1007/s11017-024-09679-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
Flourishing is an increasingly common construct employed in the study of human wellbeing. But its appropriateness as a framework of wellbeing at certain stages of life is contested. In this paper, we consider to what extent it is possible for someone to flourish at the end of life. People with terminal illness often experience significant and protracted pain and suffering especially when they opt for treatments that prolong life. Certain aspects of human goods, however, that are plausibly constitutive of flourishing-such as meaning and purpose, deep personal relationships, and character and virtue-can be uniquely realised when life is ending. We argue that there is a qualified sense in which one can flourish at the end of life but that one must make important modifications to the criteria implicit in conventional conceptions of flourishing. We close with a discussion of the empirical assessment of wellbeing at the end of life and explore the possibility of introducing a flourishing measure in palliative care practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Symons
- Human Flourishing Program in the Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Plunkett Centre for Ethics, The Australian Catholic University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - John Rhee
- Department of Neurology, Dana Faber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anthony Tanous
- School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Tyler J VanderWeele
- Human Flourishing Program in the Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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2
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Kwete XJ, Bhadelia A, Arreola-Ornelas H, Mendez O, Rosa WE, Connor S, Downing J, Jamison D, Watkins D, Calderon R, Cleary J, Friedman JR, De Lima L, Ntizimira C, Pastrana T, Pérez-Cruz PE, Spence D, Rajagopal MR, Vargas Enciso V, Krakauer EL, Radbruch L, Knaul FM. Global Assessment of Palliative Care Need: Serious Health-Related Suffering Measurement Methodology. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 68:e116-e137. [PMID: 38636816 PMCID: PMC11253038 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Inequities and gaps in palliative care access are a serious impediment to health systems especially in low- and middle-income countries and the accurate measurement of need across health conditions is a critical step to understanding and addressing the issue. Serious Health-related Suffering (SHS) is a novel methodology to measure the palliative care need and was originally developed by The Lancet Commission on Global Access to Palliative Care and Pain Relief. In 2015, the first iteration - SHS 1.0 - was estimated at over 61 million people worldwide experiencing at least 6 billion days of SHS annually as a result of life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. OBJECTIVES In this paper, an updated methodology - SHS 2.0 - is presented building on the work of the Lancet Commission and detailing calculations, data requirements, limitations, and assumptions. METHODS AND RESULTS The updates to the original methodology focus on measuring the number of people who die with (decedents) or live with (non-decedents) SHS in a given year to assess the number of people in need of palliative care across health conditions and populations. Detail on the methodology for measuring the number of days of SHS that was pioneered by the Lancet Commission, is also shared, as this second measure is essential for determining the health system responses that are necessary to address palliative care need and must be a priority for future methodological work on SHS. CONCLUSIONS The methodology encompasses opportunities for applying SHS to future policy making assessment of future research priorities particularly in light of the dearth of data from low- and middle-income countries, and sharing of directions for future work to develop SHS 3.0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao J Kwete
- University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami (X.J.K., A.B., H.A.-O., W.E.R., R.C., V.V.E., F.M.K.), Miami, Florida, USA; Yangzhou Philosophy and Social Science Research and Communication Center (X.J.K.), Yangzhou, China.
| | - Afsan Bhadelia
- University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami (X.J.K., A.B., H.A.-O., W.E.R., R.C., V.V.E., F.M.K.), Miami, Florida, USA; Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Sciences (A.B.), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Héctor Arreola-Ornelas
- University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami (X.J.K., A.B., H.A.-O., W.E.R., R.C., V.V.E., F.M.K.), Miami, Florida, USA; Institute for Obesity Research, Tecnologico de Monterrey (H.A.-O.), Monterrey, Mexico; School of Government and Public Transformation, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico City, Mexico; Tómatelo a Pecho, A.C. (H.A-O., O.M., F.M.K.), Mexico City, Mexico; Fundación Mexicana para la Salud (FUNSALUD) (H.A.-O.), Mexico City, México
| | - Oscar Mendez
- Tómatelo a Pecho, A.C. (H.A-O., O.M., F.M.K.), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - William E Rosa
- University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami (X.J.K., A.B., H.A.-O., W.E.R., R.C., V.V.E., F.M.K.), Miami, Florida, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (W.E.R.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephen Connor
- Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (S.C.), London, UK
| | - Julia Downing
- International Children's Palliative Care Network (J.D.), Bristol, UK
| | - Dean Jamison
- University of California (D.J.), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David Watkins
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington (D.W.), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Renzo Calderon
- University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami (X.J.K., A.B., H.A.-O., W.E.R., R.C., V.V.E., F.M.K.), Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jim Cleary
- Indiana University School of Medicine (J.C.), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Joseph R Friedman
- Center for Social Medicine and Humanities, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Liliana De Lima
- International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (L.D.L.), Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Tania Pastrana
- International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (L.D.L.), Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Pedro E Pérez-Cruz
- Sección Medicina Paliativa, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Centro para la Prevención y el Control del Cáncer (CECAN), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Valentina Vargas Enciso
- University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami (X.J.K., A.B., H.A.-O., W.E.R., R.C., V.V.E., F.M.K.), Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Eric L Krakauer
- Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School (E.L.K.), Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lukas Radbruch
- International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (L.D.L.), Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Felicia Marie Knaul
- University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami (X.J.K., A.B., H.A.-O., W.E.R., R.C., V.V.E., F.M.K.), Miami, Florida, USA; Tómatelo a Pecho, A.C. (H.A-O., O.M., F.M.K.), Mexico City, Mexico; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine (F.M.K.), University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA; Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (F.M.K.), University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
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3
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Cook KV, Kurniati NMT, Suwartono C, Widyarini N, Griffin BJ, Cowden RG. Associations of self-forgiveness processes with distress and well-being outcomes: Evidence from a longitudinal study of Indonesian adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 59:303-311. [PMID: 38041244 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.13093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
To date, few empirical studies have examined the benefits of the processes involved in self-forgiveness-value reorientation and esteem restoration-for individual well-being using longitudinal data from non-Western samples. In this study, we take a step toward addressing this gap by analysing three waves of data collected among 595 Indonesians (Mage = 21.95, SD = 4.39). Applying the analytic templates for lagged exposure-wide and outcome-wide longitudinal designs, we performed a series of linear regressions to estimate associations of value reorientation and esteem restoration in Wave 2 with three indicators of distress and 10 indicators of well-being in Wave 3, adjusting for Wave 1 covariates. Value reorientation and esteem restoration were each associated with improvements in several well-being outcomes (six for value reorientation and three for esteem restoration), but both showed little evidence of associations with the distress outcomes. In a secondary analysis, those who scored higher on both value reorientation and esteem restoration (i.e., self-forgiveness group) in Wave 2 reported higher well-being on five outcomes in Wave 3 compared to those who scored lower on value reorientation, esteem restoration, or both (i.e., no or partial self-forgiveness group). We discuss some implications of the findings for conceptualising self-forgiveness and promoting well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaye V Cook
- Department of Psychology, Gordon College, Wenham, MA, USA
| | | | - Christiany Suwartono
- Faculty of Psychology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Nilam Widyarini
- Department of Psychology, Gunadarma University, Depok, Indonesia
| | - Brandon J Griffin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Richard G Cowden
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Åhs JW, Eriksson H, Mazaheri M. Distant suffering: A concept analysis. Int J Nurs Stud 2024; 151:104672. [PMID: 38184919 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients who are suffering may be commonly encountered in health care. The growing use of telehealth implies that encounters with patients who are suffering may increasingly take place at a distance. "Distant suffering" is a concept coined within sociology to describe the suffering of far-away others. It is conceptualized as a paradox, as distance changes the relation between the witness of suffering and the suffering encountered. Impacts may include a potential detriment to the sufferer and ethical implications for the witness. OBJECTIVE To explore the concept of distant suffering and any relevance, implications, or important avenues for potential research within the healthcare sciences. DESIGN Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis. DATA SOURCES Databases of Web of Science, Medline, CINAHL and PsycInfo were searched for the terms "distant suffering" or "mediated suffering". REVIEW METHOD Attributes, surrogate or related terms, antecedents, consequences, and uses of the concept were extracted and synthesized. RESULTS Thirty articles published within the past ten years were selected for review from the search results. "Distant suffering" was characterized as comprising 1) mediated far-away suffering, 2) a "recognizer" or witness, and 3) a potential role of a moderator. Antecedents include shared understandings and socially-influenced responses. Consequences include responses like empathy, compassion, pity, also indifference, cynicism and compassion fatigue. CONCLUSIONS Further research to explore distant suffering from healthcare sciences' perspective could uncover valuable insights for those suffering, for healthcare workers, and any who are exposed to it. An improved understanding of how distant suffering is conveyed and moderated could enable targeted reduction of exposure or improve response to distant suffering. Such knowledge could help diminish negative consequences for those suffering, for healthcare workers who are caring at a distance for those suffering, or for others who encounter distant suffering in their occupations or in daily life via media, social media, or digital communications. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT New analysis finds that exposure to distant suffering may have important implications for health and health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill W Åhs
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Health Sciences, Swedish Red Cross University, Huddinge, Sweden.
| | - Henrik Eriksson
- Section for Health Promotion and Care Sciences, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
| | - Monir Mazaheri
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Nursing Sciences, Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden
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5
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Stelcer B, Bendowska A, Karkowska D, Baum E. Supporting elderly patients in strengthening their personal and spiritual health resources. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1237138. [PMID: 38023038 PMCID: PMC10667473 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1237138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Care for the sick, including spiritual support is sometimes called holistic medicine. The term bio-psycho-social-spiritual model is sometimes used to describe this type of therapeutic approach patient-oriented medicine. This report indicates the importance of taking into account the spiritual aspect of life due to its beneficial impact on the coping resources activated and the patient's well-being. Existential and spiritual issues are on the verge of new clinical and research interest in medicine, especially in gerontology, oncology, and palliative care. Clinicians focus not only on symptom control but also on spiritual and existential issues such as spirituality, hope, and meaning. This paper reviews the topic of spirituality in the context of illness and end-of-life care trying to define spirituality within the context of health resources of the subject. Spirituality is perceived in two of its main components: faith/religious beliefs and spiritual well-being. Especially this second construct is reviewed and described as a health resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogusław Stelcer
- Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Bendowska
- Department of Social Sciences and the Humanities, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Dorota Karkowska
- Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewa Baum
- Department of Social Sciences and the Humanities, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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6
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Duffee C. Existential spectrum of suffering: concepts and moral valuations for assessing intensity and tolerability. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2023:jme-2023-109183. [PMID: 37474303 DOI: 10.1136/jme-2023-109183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
This paper has two aims. The first is to defend a recent critique of the leading medical theory of suffering, which alleges too narrow a focus on violent experiences of suffering. Although sympathetic to this critique, I claim that it lacks a counterexample of the kinds of experiences the leading theory is said to neglect. Drawing on recent clinical cases and the longer intellectual history of suffering, my paper provides this missing counterexample. I then answer some possible objections to my defence, before turning to my second aim: an expansion of my counterexample into a spectrum of suffering that varies according to the selves and purposes that suffering affects. Next, I connect this spectrum to the tolerability of suffering, which I distinguish from its affective intensity. I conclude by outlining some applications of this distinction for the psychometric reliability of assessment instruments that measure suffering in clinical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Duffee
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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7
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Ge BH, Yang F. Transcending the self to transcend suffering. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1113965. [PMID: 37484086 PMCID: PMC10361767 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1113965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Suffering is inevitable in human life. Our perspective paper theorizes on precise mechanisms for how self-transcendence-the state in which an individual looks beyond the self and adopts a larger perspective including concern for others and the world-may help people endure the experience of suffering. From an examination of empirical literature ranging from social psychology to clinical research, we propose that self-transcendence may aid the endurance of suffering along three psychological levels: (1) On the level of affect, the unique profundity and positivity of self-transcendent experiences (e.g., awe, flow, compassion) may supersede and reduce the salience of negative affect arising from suffering (e.g., fear, despair, depressive mood). (2) On the level of cognition, the larger frame of reference provided by self-transcendent thinking may contextualize one's suffering as something comprehendible, thereby helping to resolve the challenges of making meaning from suffering (e.g., that one's existing meaning systems are unable to explain the suffering event). (3) On the level of motivation, the drive to fulfill one's need for self-transcendence may counterbalance the more hedonically-oriented motivations that can promote negative coping strategies in response to suffering (e.g., avoidance, substance abuse). All three mechanisms may also provoke downstream prosocial behaviors that help embed the individual into networks of social support. Altogether, by synthesizing specific mechanisms from affective, cognitive, and motivational self-transcendent processes, our paper establishes a theoretical framework for how self-transcendence may help people endure and transcend suffering, thereby elevating the conditions and experiences of our existence.
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8
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Park CL, Silverman EJ, Sacco SJ, Kim D, Hall MEL, McMartin J, Kapic K, Shannonhouse L, David AB, Aten J. When suffering contradicts belief: measuring theodical struggling. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 43:1-13. [PMID: 37359662 PMCID: PMC10154748 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04642-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Global meaning systems help people make sense of their experiences, but suffering can violate global meaning and create distress. One type of potential violation is conflict between one's experience of suffering and one's deeply-held beliefs about God as loving, powerful, and just. The problem of theodicy-why an all-powerful and all-loving God would allow suffering-has long been an important theological and philosophical concern, but little is known about how theodicy plays out psychologically for religious individuals facing serious life difficulties. To address this issue within a specific religious tradition, Christianity, we drew upon philosophy, Christian theology, and psychology to develop the construct of theodical struggling. Through theological and philosophical input, we generated a 28-item pool and conducted 10 cognitive interviews with a diverse sample of Christian adults. In three consecutive online studies of Christian adult samples, we reduced the scale to 11 items through PCA, found a strong one-factor solution using EFA, and found support for the one-factor solution along with preliminary reliability and validity. This newly-developed Theodical Struggling Scale represents an important advance in understanding individuals' experiences of ruptures in their beliefs regarding God's goodness and paves the way for future research on this topic. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04642-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal L. Park
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT USA
| | - Eric J. Silverman
- Department of Philosophy and Religion, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA USA
| | - Shane J. Sacco
- Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT USA
| | - Dahee Kim
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT USA
| | | | - Jason McMartin
- Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, La Mirada, CA USA
| | - Kelly Kapic
- Biblical and Theological Studies, Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA USA
| | - Laura Shannonhouse
- Department of Counseling and Psychological Services, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Adam B. David
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT USA
| | - Jamie Aten
- Humanitarian Disaster Institute, Wheaton College, IL Wheaton, USA
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Rueger SY, Worthington EL, Davis EB, Chen ZJ, Cowden RG, Moloney JM, Eveleigh E, Stone LB, Lemke AW, Glowiak KJ. Development and Initial Validation of the Persevering Hope Scale: Measuring Wait-Power in Four Independent Samples. J Pers Assess 2023; 105:58-73. [PMID: 35229699 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2022.2032100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Hope has been conceptualized as agency and pathways to achieve goals. However, this goal-directed conceptualization does not encapsulate all situations in which hope may be beneficial. To address the dispositional motivation to endure when a desired goal seems unattainable, unlikely, or even impossible (i.e., goal-transcendent hope), we provide initial psychometric evidence for the new Persevering Hope Scale (PHS). We developed and refined the PHS with undergraduates at a public college (Study 1) and replicated our findings in a community adult sample (Study 2). We replicated and extended these findings using longitudinal data with undergraduates at a faith-based college (Study 3) and a community sample of chronically ill adults (Study 4), and examined measurement invariance (Study 5). Scores on the PHS demonstrated robust evidence of estimated internal consistency and of criterion-related, convergent/discriminant, and incremental validity. Estimated temporal stability was modest. Partial scalar invariance was evidenced across samples, and full scalar invariance was evidenced across gender, race/ethnicity, and time. These preliminary findings suggest that the PHS is a psychometrically sound measure of persevering hope. Its use can broaden the current body of literature on trait hope to include goal-transcendent hope and advance research on the nature and benefits of this important construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Yu Rueger
- School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, USA
| | | | - Edward B Davis
- School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, USA
| | - Zhuo Job Chen
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
| | - Richard G Cowden
- Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University
| | | | - Elisha Eveleigh
- School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, USA
| | - Lauren B Stone
- School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, USA
| | - Austin W Lemke
- School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, USA
| | - Kevin J Glowiak
- School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, USA
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10
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Hall MEL, McMartin J, Park CL, Sacco SJ, Kim D, Kapic K, Silverman E, Shannonhouse L, Aten J, Snow LM, Lopez L. Suffering with Christ: Emic christian coping and relation to well-being. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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11
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Ho S, Cook KV, Chen ZJ, Kurniati NMT, Suwartono C, Widyarini N, Wong PTP, Cowden RG. Suffering, psychological distress, and well-being in Indonesia: A prospective cohort study. Stress Health 2022; 38:879-890. [PMID: 35244330 PMCID: PMC10078741 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Research on the subjective experience of suffering has typically focussed on older clinical samples living in Western, educated, industrialised, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) countries. To further extend the existing body of empirical research on suffering to less WEIRD contexts, we use three waves of data (Wave 1: December 2020; Wave 2: January 2021; Wave 3: February 2021) from a sample of nonclinical Indonesian adults (n = 594) to examine associations between suffering, two indices of psychological distress, and 10 facets of well-being. In our primary analysis, we estimated a series of multiple regression models that adjusted for a range of sociodemographic characteristics, financial and material stability, religious/spiritual factors, prior values of overall suffering, and prior values of each outcome assessed in Wave 1. Results indicated that overall suffering assessed in Wave 2 was associated with an increase in both indices of psychological distress and a decrease in eight facets of well-being assessed in Wave 3. Using a similar analytic approach, results from a secondary analysis indicated that higher scores on both indices of psychological distress and lower scores on seven of the well-being facets assessed in Wave 2 were associated with worse subsequent overall suffering assessed in Wave 3. These findings contribute to empirical literature on the implications of suffering for well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Ho
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kaye V Cook
- Department of Psychology, Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhuo Job Chen
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Christiany Suwartono
- Faculty of Psychology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, South Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Nilam Widyarini
- Department of Psychology, Gunadarma University, Depok, Indonesia
| | - Paul T P Wong
- Department of Psychology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard G Cowden
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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12
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Cowden RG, Seidman AJ, Duffee C, Węziak-Białowolska D, McNeely E, VanderWeele TJ. Associations of suffering with facets of health and well-being among working adults: longitudinal evidence from two samples. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20141. [PMID: 36418921 PMCID: PMC9684157 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24497-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Suffering is an experiential state that every person encounters at one time or another, yet little is known about suffering and its consequences for the health and well-being of nonclinical adult populations. In a pair of longitudinal studies, we used two waves of data from garment factory workers (Study 1 [T1: 2017, T2: 2019]: n = 344) and flight attendants (Study 2 [T1: 2017/2018, T2: 2020]: n = 1402) to examine the prospective associations of suffering with 16 outcomes across different domains of health and well-being: physical health, health behavior, mental health, psychological well-being, character strengths, and social well-being. The primary analysis involved a series of regression analyses in which each T2 outcome was regressed on overall suffering assessed at T1, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic characteristics and the baseline value (or close proxy) of the outcome assessed at T1. In Study 1, associations of overall suffering with worse subsequent health and well-being were limited to a single outcome on each of the domains of physical health and mental health. Overall suffering was more consistently related to worse subsequent health and well-being in Study 2, with associations emerging for all but two outcomes. The pattern of findings for each study was largely similar when aspects of suffering were modeled individually, although associations for some aspects of suffering differed from those that emerged for overall suffering. Our findings suggest that suffering may have important implications for the health and well-being of worker populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard G Cowden
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Andrew J Seidman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Charlotte Duffee
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dorota Węziak-Białowolska
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Sustainability and Health Initiative (SHINE), Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Centre for Evaluation and Analysis of Public Policies, Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Eileen McNeely
- Sustainability and Health Initiative (SHINE), Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tyler J VanderWeele
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Daneault S, Ummel D, Côté A, Leclerc-Loiselle J, Vinit F, Azri M, Laperle P, Gendron S. Passing through end-of-life suffering: Possible or not? Results from a qualitative inquiry. DEATH STUDIES 2022; 47:902-913. [PMID: 36369723 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2022.2142326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to understand the factors associated with "passing through suffering" in terminal illness. We interviewed 19 adults diagnosed with terminal disease in palliative stage. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four axes of understanding were generated. In the first, participants discussed the will to "feel alive" despite the disease. The second, the process of acceptance, is based on lucidity and on letting go. The third highlights the importance of relationships with others. The fourth axis describes the consequences of this passage through suffering. This study highlights a phenomenon of adapting to suffering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Daneault
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Deborah Ummel
- Département de psychoéducation, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Andréanne Côté
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Florence Vinit
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mehdi Azri
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Philippe Laperle
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sylvie Gendron
- Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
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14
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Lomas T, VanderWeele TJ. The Garden and the Orchestra: Generative Metaphors for Conceptualizing the Complexities of Well-Being. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14544. [PMID: 36361423 PMCID: PMC9657769 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of well-being, and related concepts such as health and flourishing, is shaped by the metaphors through which we think about such ideas. Current dominant metaphors-including a pyramid, ladder, and continuum-all have various issues. As such, this paper offers two other metaphors which can better do justice to the nuanced complexities of these notions, namely, a garden and an orchestra. Through these metaphors, this paper articulates a comprehensive framework for conceptualizing and appreciating the nature of well-being (and associated concepts), which it is hoped will generate further insights and research into these valued and sought-after phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Lomas
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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15
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Chen ZJ, Bechara AO, Cowden RG, Worthington EL. Perceived posttraumatic growth after interpersonal trauma and subsequent well-being among young Colombian adults: A longitudinal analysis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:993609. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.993609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Research has shown that people sometimes report self-perceived growth as a result of dealing with a potentially traumatic event, but relatively few methodologically rigorous studies have examined whether perceived posttraumatic growth is associated with improved subsequent well-being across a wide range of outcomes. In this three-wave longitudinal study of Colombian emerging adults (n = 636), we examined the associations of perceived posttraumatic growth with 17 well-being outcomes across domains of psychological well-being (i.e., self-rated mental health, meaning in life, sense of purpose, happiness, life satisfaction), psychological distress (i.e., anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, subjective suffering), social well-being (i.e., content with relationships, satisfying relationships, loneliness), physical well-being (i.e., self-rated physical health, sleep quality), and character strengths (i.e., state hope, trait forgivingness, orientation to promote good, delayed gratification). Using an outcome-wide analytic design that adjusted for a range of covariates assessed in Wave 1, we found that overall perceived posttraumatic growth assessed in Wave 2 was robustly associated with improvements in one or more facet of each well-being domain (15/17 outcomes in total) assessed approximately six months later in Wave 3. Our findings suggest that perceived posttraumatic growth may contribute to individual well-being over the longer-term.
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16
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Cook KV, Kurniati NMT, Suwartono C, Widyarini N, Worthington Jr. EL, Cowden RG. Differential effects of decisional and emotional forgiveness on distress and well-being: A three-wave study of Indonesian adults. Front Psychol 2022; 13:918045. [PMID: 36275245 PMCID: PMC9582772 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.918045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Research suggests that interpersonal forgiveness is beneficial to individual functioning, but few longitudinal studies have explored the independent contributions of decisional and emotional forgiveness to reducing different forms of distress and improving multidimensional well-being. In this three-wave (T1: December 2020; T2: January 2021; T3: February 2021) prospective study of predominantly young Indonesian adults (n = 595), we examined the associations of decisional and emotional forgiveness with three indicators of distress and 10 components of well-being. Applying the outcome-wide analytic template for longitudinal designs, our primary analysis involved estimating two sets of linear regression models (one set for decisional forgiveness and one set for emotional forgiveness) in which the outcomes were regressed on each interpersonal forgiveness process (one outcome at a time). Adjusting for a range of covariates (including prior values of decisional forgiveness, emotional forgiveness, and all 13 outcomes) assessed at T1, decisional forgiveness assessed at T2 was associated with an increase in seven components of well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, physical health, sense of purpose, promote good, delayed gratification, content with relationships, satisfying relationships) approximately 1 month later at T3. In contrast, emotional forgiveness assessed at T2 was associated with an increase in a single component of well-being (i.e., satisfying relationships) assessed at T3. Neither decisional nor emotional forgiveness assessed at T2 showed evidence of associations with any of the subsequent indicators of distress assessed at T3. Our findings suggest that, at least within a principally collectivistic cultural context such as Indonesia, decisional forgiveness in the aftermath of a transgression may have greater short-term benefits for well-being compared to emotional forgiveness. Implications of the findings for research and interventions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaye V. Cook
- Department of Psychology, Gordon College, Wenham, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Kaye V. Cook,
| | | | - Christiany Suwartono
- Faculty of Psychology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Nilam Widyarini
- Faculty of Psychology, Gunadarma University, Depok, West Java, Indonesia
| | | | - Richard G. Cowden
- Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
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17
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Daneault S, Azri M, Ummel D, Vinit F, Côté A, Leclerc-Loiselle J, Laperle P, Gendron S. Non-somatic Suffering in Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study on Patients' Perspectives. J Palliat Care 2022; 37:518-525. [PMID: 35234108 PMCID: PMC9465553 DOI: 10.1177/08258597221083421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Suffering is intimately linked to the experience of illness, and its relief is a mandate of medicine. Advances in knowledge around terminal illness have enabled better management of the somatic dimension. Nevertheless, there is what can be called "non-somatic" suffering which in some cases may take precedence. Inspired by Paul Ricoeur's thinking on human suffering, our aim in this qualitative study was to better understand the experience of non-somatic suffering. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 patients. The results were qualitatively analyzed following a continuous comparative analysis approach inspired by grounded theory. Results: Three key themes synthesize the phenomenon: "the being enduring the suffering", "the being whose agency is constrained", and "the being in relationship with others." The first describes what patients endure, the shock and fears associated with their own finitude, and the limits of what can be tolerated. The second refers to the experience of being restricted and of mourning the loss of their capacity to act. The last describes a residual suffering related to their interactions with others, that of loneliness and of abandoning their loved ones, two dimensions that persist even when they have accepted their own death. Conclusions: Non-somatic suffering can be multifarious, even when minimized by the patient. When evaluating suffering, we must keep in mind that patients can reach a "breaking point" that signals the state of unbearable suffering. In managing it, we probably need to make more room for family and friends, as well as a posture of caring based more on presence and listening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Daneault
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de
Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mehdi Azri
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal,
Montreal, Canada
| | - Deborah Ummel
- Department of Psychoeducation, Université de Sherbrooke,
Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Florence Vinit
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal,
Montreal, Canada
| | - Andréanne Côté
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Philippe Laperle
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal,
Canada
| | - Sylvie Gendron
- Faculty of Nursing Science, Université de Montréal, Montreal,
Canada
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18
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Cowden RG, Wȩziak-Białowolska D, McNeely E, VanderWeele TJ. Are depression and suffering distinct? An empirical analysis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:970466. [PMID: 36186371 PMCID: PMC9518749 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.970466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression and the subjective experience of suffering are distinct forms of distress, but they are sometimes commingled with one another. Using a cross-sectional sample of flight attendants (n = 4,652), we tested for further empirical evidence distinguishing depression and suffering. Correlations with 15 indices covering several dimensions of well-being (i.e., physical health, emotional well-being, psychological well-being, character strengths, social well-being, financial/material well-being) indicated that associations with worse well-being were mostly stronger for depression than suffering. There was a large positive correlation between depression and suffering, but we also found evidence of notable non-concurrent depression and suffering in the sample. After dividing participants into four groups that varied based on severity of depression and suffering, regression analyses showed higher levels of well-being among those with both none-mild depression and none-mild suffering compared to those with moderate-severe depression, moderate-severe suffering, or both. All indices of well-being were lowest among the group of participants with moderate-severe depression and moderate-severe suffering. In addition to providing further evidence supporting a distinction between depression and suffering, our findings suggest that concurrent depression and suffering may be more disruptive to well-being than when either is present alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard G. Cowden
- Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Richard G. Cowden,
| | - Dorota Wȩziak-Białowolska
- Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Sustainability and Health Initiative (SHINE), Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- Centre for Evaluation and Analysis of Public Policies, Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - Eileen McNeely
- Sustainability and Health Initiative (SHINE), Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tyler J. VanderWeele
- Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
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19
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A Scoping Review on the Concept of Physician Caring. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:3134-3146. [PMID: 35391622 PMCID: PMC8989128 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-07382-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physicians' interest in the health and well-being of their patients is a tenet of medical practice. Physicians' ability to act upon this interest by caring for and about their patients is central to high-quality clinical medicine and may affect burnout. To date, a strong theoretical and empirical understanding of physician caring does not exist. To establish a practical, evidence-based approach to improve health care delivery and potentially address physician burnout, we sought to identify and synthesize existing conceptual models, frameworks, and definitions of physician caring. METHODS We performed a scoping review on physician caring. In November 2019 and September 2020, we searched PubMed MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials to identify conceptual models, frameworks, and definitions of physician caring. Eligible articles involved discussion or study of care or caring among medical practitioners. We created a content summary and performed thematic analysis of extracted data. RESULTS Of 11,776 articles, we reviewed the full text of 297 articles; 61 articles met inclusion criteria. Commonly identified concepts referenced Peabody's "secret of care" and the ethics of care. In bioethics, caring is described as a virtue. Contradictions exist among concepts of caring, such as whether caring is an attitude, emotion, or behavior, and the role of relationship development. Thematic analysis of all concepts and definitions identified six aspects of physician caring: (1) relational aspects, (2) technical aspects, (3) physician attitudes and characteristics, (4) agency, (5) reciprocity, and (6) physician self-care. DISCUSSION Caring is instrumental to clinical medicine. However, scientific understanding of what constitutes caring from physicians is limited by contradictions across concepts. A unifying concept of physician caring does not yet exist. This review proposes six aspects of physician caring which can be used to develop evidence-based approaches to improve health care delivery and potentially mitigate physician burnout.
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20
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Stilwell P, Hudon A, Meldrum K, Pagé MG, Wideman TH. What is Pain-Related Suffering? Conceptual Critiques, Key Attributes, and Outstanding Questions. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2022; 23:729-738. [PMID: 34852304 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Suffering holds a central place within pain research, theory, and practice. However, the construct of pain-related suffering has yet to be operationalized by the International Association for the Study of Pain and is largely underdeveloped. Eric Cassell's seminal work on suffering serves as a conceptual anchor for the limited pain research that specifically addresses this construct. Yet, important critiques of Cassell's work have not been integrated within the pain literature. This Focus Article aims to take a preliminary step towards an updated operationalization of pain-related suffering by 1) presenting key attributes of pain-related suffering derived from a synthesis of the literature and 2) highlighting key challenges associated with Cassell's conceptualization of suffering. We present 4 key attributes: 1) pain and suffering are inter-related, but distinct experiences, 2) suffering is a subjective experience, 3) the experience of suffering is characterized by a negative affective valence, and 4) disruption to one's sense of self is an integral part of suffering. A key outstanding challenge is that suffering is commonly viewed as a self-reflective and future-oriented process, which fails to validate many forms of suffering and marginalizes certain populations. Future research addressing different modes of suffering - with and without self-reflection - are discussed. PERSPECTIVE: This article offers a preliminary step toward operationalizing the construct of pain-related suffering and proposes priorities for future research. A robust operationalization of this construct is essential to developing clinical strategies that aim to better recognize and alleviate suffering among people living with pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Stilwell
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), IURDPM, CIUSSS-Centre-Sud-de-l'Ile-de-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anne Hudon
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), IURDPM, CIUSSS-Centre-Sud-de-l'Ile-de-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Ethics Research Center (CRÉ), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - M Gabrielle Pagé
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Universite de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Timothy H Wideman
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), IURDPM, CIUSSS-Centre-Sud-de-l'Ile-de-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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21
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Nolan MT, Diefendorff J, Erickson RJ, Lee MT. Psychological compassion climate: Examining the nomological network of perceptions of work group compassion. JOURNAL OF VOCATIONAL BEHAVIOR 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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22
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Sánchez-Guardiola Paredes C, Aguaded Ramírez EM, Rodríguez-Sabiote C. Content Validation of a Semi-Structured Interview to Analyze the Management of Suffering. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:11393. [PMID: 34769919 PMCID: PMC8583067 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This work involves the content validation of a semi-structured interview, whose objective is to learn about the management of suffering in people. The interview items have been classified into several categories that define the suffering construct. For the content validation of the instrument, in addition to initially conducting a scientific review on the subject, the procedure known as expert judgement has been used. The results obtained in terms of the content validity achieved in the dimensions and areas assessed are, in general, satisfactory. However, some of these dimensions and certain areas have not exceeded the required minimum values for content validity. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the items comprising these dimensions in the areas evaluated with the additional incorporation of the qualitative suggestions for improvement indicated by the experts. As for agreement among experts, the results point to moderate agreement, which, moreover, is not due to chance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Sánchez-Guardiola Paredes
- Department of Methodology in Research and Diagnostic in Education, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; (E.M.A.R.); (C.R.-S.)
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23
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with psychiatric disorders (as well as general medical conditions) often describe their lives in terms of suffering. Although suffering is honored as a central focus of physicians' concerns, it is not even indexed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. Generally connoting severe, prolonged distress, suffering can be distinguished from pain, depression, and anxiety. The aims of this article are to consider whether attending to suffering per se in psychiatric patients merits attention independent of other commonly assessed psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and conventional distress, and how targeting suffering per se might add value to psychiatric patient care. METHODS Sources for this article were obtained via a selective literature search in PubMed using the terms "suffering" in the title and the terms "psychiatric disorder," "mental illness," "assessment," "measurement," "scale," "existential suffering," and "unbearable suffering." Articles of interest were followed up using a snowball technique to examine "similar articles" and "cited by" titles to find additional pertinent articles. RESULTS Definitions of suffering in the medical literature stress its subjectivity, particularity, complexity, and connection to a wide variety of noxious sensations, as well as real and anticipated deficits, losses, and thwarted motivations. These can affect the entire spectrum of universal human needs, from basic biological issues through intrapsychic, interpersonal, and social issues, encompassing existential concerns of meaning, purpose, and transcendence. Based on these factors, a definition of suffering in patients with psychiatric disorders is proposed. Although efforts to measure suffering have been limited and numerous gaps in the literature are evident, several scales may offer suitable bases for the study of suffering in patients with psychiatric disorders. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Ascertaining sources of suffering may require new types of inquiry and additional time. Well-described, evidence-informed strategies and time-honored psychotherapy techniques are available for addressing the numerous concerns that contribute to suffering. Patients with psychiatric disorders whose distinct, multidimensional sources of suffering are identified, acknowledged, and addressed may experience better treatment quality, greater treatment satisfaction, and possibly better outcomes than those whose clinicians' attention is limited to conventional psychiatric signs and symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Yager
- Department of Psychiatry, MC A011-04, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
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24
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Cowden RG, Davis EB, Counted V, Chen Y, Rueger SY, VanderWeele TJ, Lemke AW, Glowiak KJ, Worthington EL. Suffering, Mental Health, and Psychological Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of U.S. Adults With Chronic Health Conditions. WELLBEING, SPACE AND SOCIETY 2021; 2:100048. [PMID: 34746895 PMCID: PMC8562865 DOI: 10.1016/j.wss.2021.100048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Suffering has been a topic of considerable discussion in the fields of medicine and palliative care, yet few studies have reported causal evidence linking the experience of suffering to health and well-being. In this three-wave prospective cohort study, we explore the potential psychological implications of suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining relations among suffering, mental health, and psychological well-being in a sample of U.S. adults living with chronic health conditions. We analyzed data from n = 184 participants who completed assessments one month before the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (February 2020) and then two months (April 2020) and four months later (May/June 2020). Analyses controlled for a range of factors, including sociodemographic characteristics, physical health, religious/spiritual factors, psychological characteristics, and prior values of the predictor and each of the outcomes assessed one month before the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of the primary analysis indicated that greater overall suffering assessed one month into the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with lower psychological well-being (β = -.17, 95% CI: -.29, -.05) and higher levels of anxiety (β = .27, 95% CI: .13, .41) and depression (β = .16, 95% CI: .03, .29) two months later. In a secondary analysis that explored anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being as candidate antecedents of suffering, depression assessed one month into the COVID-19 pandemic was most strongly associated with worse overall suffering two months later. We highlight the implications of the findings for high-risk populations who are suffering amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential benefits of both integrating assessments of suffering into screening procedures and addressing experiences of suffering in mental health service settings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard G Cowden
- Harvard University, Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science
| | - Edward B Davis
- Wheaton College, School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy
| | | | - Ying Chen
- Harvard University, Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science
| | - Sandra Y Rueger
- Wheaton College, School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy
| | - Tyler J VanderWeele
- Harvard University, Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology
| | - Austin W Lemke
- Wheaton College, School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy
| | - Kevin J Glowiak
- Wheaton College, School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy
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25
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Abstract
Despite Peter Frost’s (1999, p. 128) call for organizational scholars and practitioners to “find suffering as a significant aspect of organizational life,” both have largely remained silent about it. This silence misrepresents the fact that suffering is a pervasive, inescapable, and costly organizational reality. Suffering matters, and a recognition of our general inattention to it exposes an under-appreciated shortcoming of established theories and approaches to management. We must acknowledge, account for, and explicitly investigate suffering if we are to truly understand the full humanity of organizational life. Accordingly, this paper outlines promising areas for future research on suffering in organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Kanov
- College of Business and Economics, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
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26
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Abstract
To practice compassion, the recognition, understanding, and alleviation of patient suffering are of utmost importance. Nursing literature provides ample guidance about the nature and meaning and patients' views about compassion and physical and psychological suffering. However, missing is the discussion about how nurses can achieve a deeper awareness of patients' suffering to practice compassion. This paper aims to describe the relational inquiry nursing approach and illustrate how this approach can enable nurses to develop a deeper awareness of patient suffering. The relational inquiry approach encompasses two components: a relational consciousness and inquiry as a form of action. Relational consciousness requires the nurses to focus on the concrete situations and relationships as well as recognize the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual factors affecting the situations. The interpersonal factors are among and between the individuals, intrapersonal factors are within the individuals, and contextual factors are the hidden factors influencing the individuals and situations. Inquiry as an action requires a critical analysis of the experiences of individuals, situational contexts, and knowledge to inform the nursing care modalities and actions. This approach encourages nurses to use the philosophies of hermeneutic phenomenology, critical theory, and pragmatism. The phenomenological worldview allows nurses to interpret their own and patients' experiences, the critical theory worldview allows nurses to examine the influence of social and cultural factors, and pragmatism allows nurses to question their prior knowledge and develop new knowledge in each situation. The relational inquiry approach allows nurses to develop a deeper understanding of patient suffering through building a therapeutic and trustworthy relationship, active listening, focusing on the details, and engaging in broad and situations specific inquiries to understand the patient narrative of suffering. Two case exemplars are shared to demonstrate how relational inquiry allowed nurses to move beyond recognizing physical suffering and understand patients' emotional and psychological suffering.
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