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Chen F, Ou M, Xiao Z, Xu X. The relationship between fear of cancer recurrence and death anxiety among Chinese cancer patients: the serial mediation model. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:416. [PMID: 38834978 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05819-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS This study aims to investigate the association between fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and death anxiety (DA) among Chinese cancer patients, while considering the mediating effects of experiential avoidance (EA) and meaning in life (MIL). METHODS From February to June 2023, convenience sampling was used to select newly diagnosed cancer patients in a tertiary Cancer Hospital in Chinese Hunan Province as the survey objects. A total of 436 cancer patients completed the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, and the Templer's death anxiety scale. Descriptive analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS 28.0 software. Serial mediation analysis was performed by Hayes' PROCESS macro. RESULTS Gender, age, educational level, marital status, residence, occupation, per capita monthly household income, tumor type, and cancer stage were controlled in the model. The results revealed that fear of cancer recurrence had a significant direct effect on death anxiety (Effect = 0.075, 95% CI: 0.064 to 0.087). Additionally, three indirect pathways were identified: (1) through experiential avoidance (Effect = 0.037, 95% CI: 0.026 to 0.049), (2) through meaning in life (Effect = 0.022, 95% CI: 0.014 to 0.031), and (3) through the serial mediators involving meaning in life and experiential avoidance (Effect = 0.016, 95% CI: 0.010 to 0.023). The total indirect effect of the three mediation paths was 63.56%. CONCLUSION Fear of cancer recurrence is a significant psychological distress experienced by cancer patients, which not only directly contributes to death anxiety but also may triggers changes, such as experiential avoidance and meaning in life. Ultimately, this comprehensive psychological distress leads to death anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Furong Chen
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
- School of Nursing, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Meijun Ou
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Zhirui Xiao
- School of Nursing, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Xianghua Xu
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
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Sawyer JS. Grief and bereavement beliefs and their associations with death anxiety and complicated grief in a U.S. college student sample. DEATH STUDIES 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38713539 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2024.2349933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
This study examined beliefs about grief and bereavement, and how the endorsement of myths is related to death anxiety and complicated grief. Results from a sample of college students in the United States (N = 391) suggested that myths about grief and bereavement are prevalent in this group. Additionally, the endorsement of certain myths significantly explained both death anxiety and complicated grief. Findings from this study provide additional support for death education in college and university settings to promote grief literacy. Implications for education, advocacy, research, and practice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob S Sawyer
- Department of Psychology, Alma College, Alma, Michigan, USA
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Lv Y, Xu Q, Tang Q, Tao Y, Zhang C, Liu X. The unique role of meaning in life in the relationships between trait awe, subjective well-being, and prosocial tendency: A network analysis. Psych J 2024. [PMID: 38363640 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.733] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Although individuals with higher trait awe (the tendency to experience awe) are known to be happier and more prosocial, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying these complex relationships. This study uses network analysis to explore dimension-level relationships between trait awe, meaning in life, subjective well-being (SWB), and prosocial tendency in a joint network and to explore the bridging role of meaning in life in the network. A total of 538 adults (53.2% females; Mage = 19.86 ± 1.51) completed the survey. The network revealed unique and intricate connections between the dimensions of trait awe, meaning in life (i.e., the presence of and the search for meaning, abbreviated as POM and SFM), subjective happiness and life satisfaction (SWB), and prosocial tendency (i.e., willingness to donate money and volunteer time). Trait awe exhibited direct links to subjective happiness, life satisfaction, and prosocial tendency to donate money. Moreover, through POM and SFM, trait awe also exhibited indirect links to each dimension of SWB and prosocial tendency. Within the global network, POM was further identified as acting as a bridge node with the highest bridge strength and closeness, indicating that POM could efficiently transmit influences within the entire network. These findings highlight the distinct contributions of meaning in life to understanding the relationships between trait awe, SWB, and prosocial tendency, and provide valuable insights for improving SWB and fostering prosocial tendencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichao Lv
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Xu
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qihui Tang
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yanqiang Tao
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- School of Education Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiangping Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Beijing, China
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Mirhosseini S, Montazeri A, Khanmohammadi M, Qasemi Haddad A, Nadali J, Basirinezhad MH, Mohebbi S, Ebrahimi H. Spiritual Well-Being and Death Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Iranian Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2023:302228231195103. [PMID: 37586030 DOI: 10.1177/00302228231195103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients experience a tremendous psychological burden, typically in the form of death worry due to acute medical conditions and the possibility of mortality. The unfavourable conditions of ACS patients cause them to reconsider the meaning of life and their spiritual well-being. This study evaluated the association between death anxiety and spiritual well-being in a total of 241 ACS patients in Shahroud, northeast of Iran. The data were collected using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale, and the Spiritual Well-being Scale by convenience sampling method. All patients indicated a high degree of death anxiety, and roughly half reported a moderate level of spiritual well-being. There was a significant and direct correlation between death anxiety and spiritual well-being levels. Older age, single status, and non-smoking were other predictors of good spiritual well-being. A multidisciplinary health team should identify and implement approaches to promote spiritual well-being and reduce mental suffering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedmohammad Mirhosseini
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Ali Montazeri
- Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Mobina Khanmohammadi
- Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Aida Qasemi Haddad
- Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Javad Nadali
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hasan Basirinezhad
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Sara Mohebbi
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Hossein Ebrahimi
- Center for Health Related Social and Behavioral Sciences Research, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
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Hu J. Dispositional awe, meaning in life, and socially responsible consumption. SERVICE INDUSTRIES JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/02642069.2022.2154757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Hu
- School of Economics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan City, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
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Wong LP, Alias H, Tan SL, Sia TE, Saw A. An Exploration of Death Anxiety of Family Members of Silent Mentor Body Donation Program. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2022:302228221132902. [PMID: 36217612 DOI: 10.1177/00302228221132902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: This study assesses the level of death anxiety among the family members of the Silent Mentor Programme (SMP) and determines whether their participation in various ceremonies during the training session impacted their death anxiety. Methods: The revised Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale (CL-FODS) was administered to the study participants before the opening ceremony and after the sending-off ceremony of the programme. Results: All the four subscales that measure fear of one's own death, fear of the process of one's own dying, fear of the death of others and fear of the process of others dying in the CL-FODS showed significant reduction after the sending-off ceremony compared with before the opening ceremony. Younger family members reported significantly higher mean total death anxiety scores compared to the older members. Conclusion: The SMP not only nurtures doctors with humanity but also helps the family members to cope with grief and loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ping Wong
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Unit of Silent Mentor Program, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Haridah Alias
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Unit of Silent Mentor Program, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sik-Loo Tan
- Unit of Silent Mentor Program, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence for Research and Learning, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Thiam Eng Sia
- Unit of Silent Mentor Program, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Aik Saw
- Unit of Silent Mentor Program, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence for Research and Learning, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Liu H, Liu X, Liu Z, Wang Y, Feng R, Zheng R, Xie R, Tao H, Wu Y, Li X, Ying W, Wu X. Death anxiety and its relationship with family function and meaning in life in patients with advanced cancer-A cross-sectional survey in China. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs 2022; 9:100134. [PMID: 36204085 PMCID: PMC9529665 DOI: 10.1016/j.apjon.2022.100134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explores the factors influencing death anxiety in patients with advanced cancer, and to investigate the role of family function on death anxiety, and the correlation between meaning in life and death anxiety. METHODS Patients with advanced cancer who were hospitalized in three institutions from November 2020 to May 2021 were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The Chinese version of the Death and Dying Distress Scale, Meaning in Life Scale For Advanced Cancer Patients and Family APGAR Index were used to assess death anxiety, meaning in life and family function. Pain symptoms were evaluated by the Numeric Rating Scale. Karnofsky Performance Status, patients' socio-demographic and clinical variables were also recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (version 26.0). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to examine the correlations of social-demographic and clinical variables with family function and death anxiety. RESULTS Three hundred and twenty-eight patients with advanced cancer were included in this study. The results showed that 12.2% of patients experienced moderate to severe death anxiety. Meaning in Life Scale For Advanced Cancer Patients (acceptance of death, controlling one's life), types of institution (oncology department of tertiary hospitals), self-perceived economic burden (extreme), Karnofsky Performance Status score, age, and medical insurance status (self-paid, inter-provincial medical insurance) were identified as associated factors of death anxiety (R 2 = 0.335, F = 20.072, P < 0.001). Patients with good family function scores had significantly low level of death anxiety in univariate analysis (F = 5.892, P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis revealed no significant association between family function and death anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that the oncology department of a tertiary hospital, extremely high of self-perceived economic burden, self-pay, and inter-provincial medical insurance might be associated with higher death anxiety in patients with advanced cancer. Lower level death anxiety was associated with higher level acceptance of death, a greater sense of life control, better physical performance, and older age. Further confirmation about the association between family function and death anxiety in patients with advanced cancer is warranted in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- Nursing Department, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaocheng Liu
- Nursing Department, Shenzhen Longhua Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhili Liu
- Nursing Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Ruiling Feng
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Ruihua Zheng
- Nursing Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Rongzhi Xie
- Nursing Department, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Hongmei Tao
- Nursing Department, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yanchun Wu
- Nursing Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaomin Li
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Wenjuan Ying
- Nursing Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaoying Wu
- Nursing Department, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China
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