A Study on the Relationship between the Meaning of life and Spiritual distress in Arthritis

관절염 환자의 삶의 의미와 영적고통과의 관계

The arthritis patients suffer from psychological, social and spiritual problems as well as physical problems because the arthritis is not curable and has chronic pain, joint deformity, limitation of activity and physical dysfunction for all of his life. Especially if they do not find the meaning in their lives, they will experience spiritual distress seriously. Therefore, it is important that nurses help the patients to find the meaning in their lives and to reduce spiritual distress. The purpose of this study is to provide a basis for nursing intervention strategies to minimize the arthritis patients' spiritual distress and understand the relationship between the meaning of life and the spiritual distress in arthritis patients. The samples were composed of 157 arthritis patients. Data collection was carried out from October 1, 1998 to February 28, 1999. Data were analyzed using a SAS program for descriptive statistic, Pearson correlation, t-test, ANOVA, linear regression. The results were as follow; 1. The scores on the meaning of life scale ranged from 51 to 130 with a mean of 93. 2. The scores on the spiritual distress scale ranged from 26 to 91 with a mean of 60. 3. There were significant correlations between the meaning of life and the spiritual distress(r=.53, p=.00). 4. The linear regression analysis showed that the meaning of life explained 13% of the spiritual distress. 5. In the degree of the meaning of life and the spiritual distress according to the general characteristics, the level of the meaning of life in arthritis patients was different by the duration of incidence(F=2.71, p=.03). In conclusion, the nursing intervention strategies to reduce the spiritual distress in arthritis patients must take into account the meaning of life.