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Relevance of philosophy of life and optimism for psychological distress among individuals in a stage where death is approaching

Winterling, J ; Wasteson, E ; Sidenvall, B ; Sidenvall, Erik LU orcid ; Glimelius, B ; Sjoden, PO and Nordin, K (2006) In Supportive Care in Cancer 14(4). p.310-319
Abstract
The purpose was to investigate the relevance of philosophy of life as well as optimism for the psychological distress among Swedish individuals in a stage where death is approaching. Sixty-nine persons were included; of these were 42 patients newly diagnosed with advanced gastrointestinal cancer and 26 were partners to these patients. The participants' philosophy of life was studied through a semi-structured interview. The interview statements were subjected to content analysis. Optimism was measured by the Life Orientation Test and psychological distress by the Hospitality and Depression Scale. The results showed that optimistic respondents had less psychological distress. Two aspects of philosophy of life had relevance for such distress.... (More)
The purpose was to investigate the relevance of philosophy of life as well as optimism for the psychological distress among Swedish individuals in a stage where death is approaching. Sixty-nine persons were included; of these were 42 patients newly diagnosed with advanced gastrointestinal cancer and 26 were partners to these patients. The participants' philosophy of life was studied through a semi-structured interview. The interview statements were subjected to content analysis. Optimism was measured by the Life Orientation Test and psychological distress by the Hospitality and Depression Scale. The results showed that optimistic respondents had less psychological distress. Two aspects of philosophy of life had relevance for such distress. These were wondering about why the cancer had occurred and having a feeling of being able to live a good life having or living near a person with advanced cancer. In conclusion, the above-mentioned aspects of philosophy of life as well as optimism have relevance for psychological distress among these individuals, which stress the importance that health-care staff address both patients' and their partners' concerns about their philosophy of life. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
optimism, philosophy of life, advanced gastrointestinal cancer, partner
in
Supportive Care in Cancer
volume
14
issue
4
pages
310 - 319
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000236983200003
  • pmid:16078045
  • scopus:33646391666
ISSN
0941-4355
DOI
10.1007/s00520-005-0870-z
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
056a3f4a-c073-44d5-a12f-33772113ac74 (old id 411015)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:29:58
date last changed
2023-04-18 19:33:40
@article{056a3f4a-c073-44d5-a12f-33772113ac74,
  abstract     = {{The purpose was to investigate the relevance of philosophy of life as well as optimism for the psychological distress among Swedish individuals in a stage where death is approaching. Sixty-nine persons were included; of these were 42 patients newly diagnosed with advanced gastrointestinal cancer and 26 were partners to these patients. The participants' philosophy of life was studied through a semi-structured interview. The interview statements were subjected to content analysis. Optimism was measured by the Life Orientation Test and psychological distress by the Hospitality and Depression Scale. The results showed that optimistic respondents had less psychological distress. Two aspects of philosophy of life had relevance for such distress. These were wondering about why the cancer had occurred and having a feeling of being able to live a good life having or living near a person with advanced cancer. In conclusion, the above-mentioned aspects of philosophy of life as well as optimism have relevance for psychological distress among these individuals, which stress the importance that health-care staff address both patients' and their partners' concerns about their philosophy of life.}},
  author       = {{Winterling, J and Wasteson, E and Sidenvall, B and Sidenvall, Erik and Glimelius, B and Sjoden, PO and Nordin, K}},
  issn         = {{0941-4355}},
  keywords     = {{optimism; philosophy of life; advanced gastrointestinal cancer; partner}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{310--319}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Supportive Care in Cancer}},
  title        = {{Relevance of philosophy of life and optimism for psychological distress among individuals in a stage where death is approaching}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0870-z}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00520-005-0870-z}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}