Meaning in Life as A Mediator of Associations Between Self-Esteem and Psychological Adjustment Among Middle-Aged Women with Breast Cancer

Year 2023, , 93 - 115, 08.05.2023

Cem Soylu , Zehra Uçanok

https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2022-1057478

Abstract

A growing body of research has clearly demonstrated that meaning in life plays an important role in psychological adjustment in the face of highly stressful life events, such as a cancer diagnosis. This study primarily aims to explore the predictors of meaning in life and the mediating role of the two dimensions of meaning in life (presence of meaning, and search for meaning) on the association between self-esteem and psychological adjustment among middle-aged women diagnosed with breast cancer. In the present study, psychological well-beingand psychological distress have been used as indicators of psychological adjustment. The sample consisted of 125 women aged between 40 - 65 (Mage = 52.34, SD = 6.83). Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Psychological Well-Being Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The findings revealed a negative significant relationship between the presence of meaning and the search for meaning. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived social support, age, perceived income level, and time since diagnosis positively predicted the presence of meaning and explained 30% of the total variance. On the other hand, perceived social support, age, and the time since diagnosis negatively predicted the search for meaning and explained 34% of the total variance. Moreover, the findings of mediation analysis showed that the presence of meaning in life partially mediates the association between self-esteem and psychological adjustment. In other words, although the predictors of the meaning in life are similar for both dimensions, it was shown that the mediating role of the presence of meaning was stronger than the search for meaning in the relationship between self-esteem and psychological adjustment. Hence, it can be concluded that high self-esteem contributes positively to psychological adjustment by increasing the presence of meaning in the life of middle-aged female cancer patients.

Keywords

Breast cancer, self-esteem, psychological well-being, psychological distress, meaning in life, middle adulthood

Orta Yaş Dönemindeki Meme Kanseri Kadın Bireylerde Benlik Saygısı ve Psikolojik Uyum Arasındaki İlişkiler: Hayatın Anlamının Aracı Rolü

Abstract

Giderek artan sayıda araştırma, hayatın anlamının kanser teşhisi gibi oldukça stresli yaşam olayları karşısında psikolojik uyum üzerinde önemli bir rol oynadığını açıkça göstermektedir. Araştırmanın temel amacı meme kanseri tanısı almış orta yaş dönemindeki kadınlarda hayatın anlamını yordayan faktörleri ve benlik saygısı ile psikolojik uyum arasındaki ilişkide hayatın anlamının boyutlarının (anlamın varlığı ve anlam arama) aracı rolünü incelemektir. Bu araştırmada psikolojik uyumun göstergeleri olarak psikolojik iyi oluş ve psikolojik sıkıntı kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini yaşları 40 ile 65 arasında değişen (Ort.yaş = 52.34, SS = 6.83) toplam 125 kadın oluşturmuştur. Katılımcılara Rosenberg Benlik Saygısı Ölçeği, Psikolojik İyi Oluş Ölçeği, Hastane Anksiyete ve Depresyon Ölçeği, Hayatın Anlamı Ölçeği ve Çok Boyutlu Algılanan Sosyal Destek Ölçeği’nden oluşan bir ölçek seti uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, anlamın varlığı ile anlam arama arasında negatif yönde anlamlı bir ilişki ortaya koymuştur. Regresyon analizi sonuçları,sırasıyla algılanan sosyal destek, yaş, algılanan gelir düzeyi ve tanı süresinin anlamın varlığını pozitif yönde yordadığını ve toplam varyansın %30’unu açıkladığını ortaya koymuştur. Buna karşılık, anlam aramayı ise algılanan sosyal destek, yaş ve tanı süresi negatif yönde yordamakta ve toplam varyansın %34’ünü açıklamaktadır. Aracı rollere ilişkin analiz sonuçları ise benlik saygısı ile psikolojik uyum arasındaki ilişkide anlamın varlığının kısmi aracı role sahip olduğunu göstermiştir. Bir diğer ifade ile hayatın anlamının yordayıcıları her iki boyut için benzer olsa da, anlam aramaya göre anlamın varlığının aracı rolünün benlik saygısı ve psikolojik uyum arasındaki ilişkide daha güçlü olduğunu göstermiştir. Sonuç olarak, elde edilen bulgular çerçevesinde yüksek benlik saygısının orta yaş dönemindeki kadın kanser hastalarında anlamın varlığını artırarak psikolojik uyuma pozitif yönde katkı sağladığı söylenebilir.

Keywords

Meme kanseri, benlik saygısı, psikolojik iyi oluş, psikolojik sıkıntı, hayatın anlamı, orta yetişkinlik dönemi

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