Relationship Between Mental, Existential, and Religious Well-being and Death Anxiety in Women With Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Considering the role of psychological components in the life of patients with cancer, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between mental, existential, and religious well-being and death anxiety in women with breast cancer. Methods: In this descriptive, correlational study, the statistical population included all women with breast cancer referred to Shahid Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad in 2017. A sample of 100 patients was selected through convenience sampling and data were collected using Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale, the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, and the Spiritual Well-being Scale. For the purpose of data analysis, mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression were applied using SPSS 22. Results: The study findings indicated a significant, negative correlation between mental well-being, existential well-being, and religious well-being and death anxiety in patients with breast cancer (α = 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, mental, existential, and religious well-being are important contributors to mental health and quality of life of patients with cancer. Therefore, enhancing these components in cancer patients can be introduced as a complementary treatment along with medical treatments in order to improve psychological problems in clinical settings.