title: The relationship between spiritual well-being and psychosocial adjustment in Taiwanese patients with colorectal cancer and a colostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined relationships among demographic and clinical characteristics, spiritual well-being, and psychosocial adjustment in Taiwanese patients with colorectal cancer and a colostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional, exploratory study design was used to answer research questions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited from the outpatient ambulatory clinic in the gastrointestinal surgical department at the medical center of National Taiwan University. Forty-five Taiwanese patients aged 42 to 83 years who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and underwent colostomy surgery participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a personal data questionnaire designed for this study, along with 2 validated instruments, the Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self Report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five persons participated in the study; 69% reported a moderate level of spiritual well-being. Participants reported strong adjustment to extended family relationships, but poor adjustment in sexual relationships. Spiritual well-being was significantly associated with psychosocial adjustment (r = -0.52, P < .01), and 4 predictors (income change after surgery, self-rated disease severity, time since surgery, and spiritual well-being) accounted for 53% of the variance in psychosocial adjustment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spiritual well-being plays an important role for Taiwanese patients when faced with psychosocial adjustment related to life with colorectal cancer and a colostomy.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, USA.
authors.forename: Chia-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rew
authors.forename: Shiow-Li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003125:Colostomy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012917:Social Adjustment; D029181:Spirituality; D013624:Taiwan