Cancer-related search for meaning increases willingness to participate in mindfulness-based stress reduction

Abstract

Objective. A cancer diagnosis can prompt an examination and reevaluation of life's meaning, purpose, and priorities. There is evidence that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may help facilitate the meaning-making process. This study examined the influence of meaning in life on willingness to participate (WTP) in MBSR and identified factors associated with the search for and/or presence of meaning. Methods. A cross-sectional survey study of 300 patients undergoing radiation therapy was conducted. WTP in MBSR was dichotomized into yes/no by asking, "Would you participate in an MBSR program if it was offered at the cancer center?" The search for, and the presence of, meaning were assessed using the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Results. Eighty patients (27%) indicated WTP in MBSR. In a multivariate logistic regression model, search for meaning was the only significant predictor of WTP in MBSR (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.04, P.001, 95% CI = 1.01-1.08). Identifying as non-white (adjusted β = 4.62; 95% CI = 2.22-7.02; P