Correlation between meaning in life and social support in Chinese hospitalized patients with advanced lung cancer / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To examine the relationship between meaning in life (MIF) and social support in Chinese hospitalized patients with advanced lung cancer (ALC).Methods:Totally, 231 ALC patients from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University were recruited to complete the Meaning in life Questionnaire (MIFQ) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) from December 2018 to December 2019.Results:The total score of MIFQ in ALC patients was (97.81 ± 15.74), and the total score of SSRS was (27.47 ± 6.37), with the former and its each dimension positively correlated to the latter ( r = 0.275-0.417, P<0.01), genders (female), marital status (married), ocupational status and total score of social support were the important factors of the life meaning ( F = 9.82, P<0.001), which accounted for 23.6% of the changes of life meaning. Conclusion:ALC patients sensed the middle level of social support and MIF. Patients who were females, married, the higher the degree of social support, tended to have higher level of MIF. Medical workers need to value the social support system of ALC patients, in an effort to improve MIF of patients.