Relationships Among Self-Transcendence, Illness Distress, and Health-Promoting Behaviors in African American Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to describe relationships among three spiritually-related variables (psychosocial self-transcendence, spiritual self-transcendence, and religious self-transcendence), and two health-related variables: illness distress (as an indicator of emotional well-being), and health-promoting behaviors in African American women diagnosed with breast cancer. A secondary purpose was to describe spiritually-related perspectives and behaviors reported by these women in reference to minimizing their illness distress and supporting healthy behaviors during their breast cancer trajectory. A convenience sample of 537 women with breast cancer completed an electronic survey. In Qualtrics, an on-line survey tool, six questionnaires: Demographic and Health-Related Questionnaire, Reed's (1991) Self-Transcendence Scale, Reed's (1986) Spiritual Perspective Scale, Spiritual–Religious Practices Scale, Distress Scale, and Walker's (1987) Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, were formatted to measure each of the variables stated in the research questions. In addition, a subgroup of 10 women were interviewed by phone to obtain a more in-depth understanding of the relevance of spiritually-related factors in African American women coping with breast cancer. Results of the study revealed several significant positive relationships between the independent and dependent variables. All three self-transcendence variables and many of the demographic and health related variables were found to be significant in explaining illness distress and the level of engagement in health promoting behaviors. In addition, the results of this study will contribute to better understanding of how spiritually-related variables and selected demographics may be relevant in helping African American breast cancer survivors reduce illness distress and modify health behaviors. Results from telephone interviews provide relevant data related to self-transcendence, illness distress, and level of engagement in health promoting behaviors.