Functional well-being is positively correlated with spiritual well-being in women who have spontaneous premature ovarian failure.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between spiritual well-being and functional well-being in women who have spontaneous premature ovarian failure.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
The Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center at the US National Institutes of Health.


METHODS
Women diagnosed with spontaneous premature ovarian failure (N = 138) at a median age of 28 years.


METHODS
Administration of validated self-reporting instruments.


METHODS
Functional Well-Being, Spiritual Well-Being, Meaning/Peace, and Faith scores.


RESULTS
We found a significant positive correlation between overall spiritual well-being and functional well-being scores. The Meaning/Peace subscale strongly correlated with functional well-being, explaining approximately 62% of the variance. In contrast, the Faith subscale was less strongly correlated with functional well-being, explaining only 7% of the variance. In multiple regression analysis evaluating the relative subscale contributions to functional well-being, only Meaning/Peace remained statistically significant. We found no significant associations between either spiritual well-being or functional well-being and age; age at diagnosis; time since diagnosis; or partner, children, or racial status.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides cross-sectional data supporting the need for prospective controlled studies. Strategies to improve spiritual well-being in the domains of meaning, purpose, and inner peace may provide a therapeutic approach to reduce the emotional suffering that accompanies the life-altering diagnosis of premature ovarian failure.
Ventura
June L
JL
Section on Women's Health Research, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1103, USA.
Fitzgerald
O Ray
OR
Koziol
Deloris E
DE
Covington
Sharon N
SN
Vanderhoof
Vien H
VH
Calis
Karim A
KA
Nelson
Lawrence M
LM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012067:Religion; D029181:Spirituality