Increased self‐transcendence in patients with intractable diseases

Abstract

Aims: Patients with intractable disease require long‐term treatment and experience repeated bouts of progressive symptoms and resolutions, which cause them severe suffering. The aim of this study was to elucidate the concepts of self‐transcendence and subjective well‐being in patients with intractable disease. Methods: Forty‐four patients with intractable disease (men/women: 22/22) participated. The diseases of the participants were classified into five systems: (i) neural/muscle system; (ii) digestive system; (iii) immunity/blood system; (iv) visual system; and (v) bone/joint system. The controls were 1854 healthy individuals (men/women: 935/869). Participants completed the Self‐Transcendence Scale (STS) and the Japanese version of the World Health Organization‐Subjective Inventory. The Japanese version of the Mini‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview was also used for the intractable disease group. Results: Analysis of covariance found a significant increase in STS score among the intractable disease group (P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that the positive affect measured by the World Health Organization‐Subjective Inventory showed the greatest effect on the STS score for the intractable disease group (β = 0.539, P < 0.001). Conclusion: As a life‐changing experience, an intractable disease may influence an increase in self‐transcendence. The results also showed that there was a strong correlation between self‐transcendence and respondents' subjective well‐being. Our results suggest that patients with life‐changing intractable disease can have a high level of self‐transcendence, which may lead them to regain mental well‐being, and increase their psychological health even in situations that cause physical and mental suffering.

Meaning-Seeking, Self-Transcendence, and Well-being

“…Self-transcendence is especially important for the elderly and patients with terminal illnesses (e.g., Burr et al 2011 ;Coward and Reed 1996 ;Haugan et al 2013 ;Iwamoto et al 2011 ;Matthews and Cook 2008 ;McCarthy and Bockweb 2013 ;Reker and Woo 2011 ). Some researchers have even applied logotherapy or meaning therapy to increase the well-being of cancer patients (Breitbart 2002 ;Noguchi et al 2006 ).…”

Self-transcendence (ST) among very old people – Its associations to social and medical factors and development over five years

“…In recipients of liver transplants, ST was associated with higher quality of life and lower degree of illness distress (Bean & Wagner, 2006). ST is described as a vital resource for wellbeing in vulnerable older adults (Haugan et al, 2014;Nygren et al, 2005;Reed, 1991b) and has been found to have a mediating effect on wellbeing in people with chronic illnesses such as intractable diseases (Iwamoto, Yamawaki, & Sato, 2011), prostate cancer (Chin-A-Loy & Fernsler, 1998), and oral cancer (Chen, 2012).…”

Belief in life after death, salivary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, and well-being among older people without cognitive impairment dwelling in rural Japan

“…Research exploring the relationship between religion and mental and physical health has focused on certain dimensions and measures of the concept of religion: that is, organizational religiosity or public participation, non-organizational religiosity or private religious practices, subjective religiosity, religious affiliation, religious coping, and religious beliefs (Krause, 1993;Levin and Chatters, 1998;George et al, 2002). The scales used in the West to measure religious dimensions do not necessarily apply to Japanese individuals because their religious orientations are fairly different from those in the West (Krause et al, 1999(Krause et al, , 2002Iwamoto et al, 2011). For example, few Japanese attend formal religious services on a regular basis, unlike many Christians who go to church on Sundays for worship.…”