Spiritual well-being and anxiety in adults diagnosed with cancer.

Abstract

Exploring the theory that anxiety is lower in highly spiritual persons confronting life-threatening illness, this correlational study was conducted with 114 adults who had been diagnosed with cancer. Relationships were measured between spiritual well-being and state-trait anxiety, using the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, which distinguishes between the religious and existential dimensions of spirituality, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, which differentiates between transitory and characteristic anxiety. Efforts were made to identify demographic features of the sample which could influence spirituality and anxiety and their interactions. A consistent inverse relationship (p less than .001) was found between spiritual well-being and state-trait anxiety, regardless of influences of gender, age, marital status, diagnosis, group participation, and length of time since diagnosis. This supports the theory that persons with high levels of spiritual well-being have lower levels of anxiety. Controlled studies now are indicated, with attention to diversity and specificity of ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds, as well as cancer type, stage, symptoms, and prognosis. The hospice community is challenged to undertake studies of the spiritual dimension and its healing potential.