Integrating Spirituality into a Group Psychotherapy Program for Women Surviving from Breast Cancer.
BACKGROUND
In spite of a significant relation between spirituality and hope, happiness and life satisfaction, the effectiveness of spiritual interventions in the mentioned mental strengths has been less dealt with. The present study is conducted in order to determine the effectiveness of spiritual group intervention on the increase of hope, life satisfaction and happiness in women surviving from breast cancer.


METHODS
Sixty women surviving from Breast Cancer were voluntarily assigned in to case and control groups, and were assessed before and after Islamic perspective spiritual intervention by spiritual experience, hope, happiness and life satisfaction questionnaires. Statistical analysis of data was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics through covariance.


RESULTS
The spiritual intervention resulted in significant increase of hope, happiness and life satisfaction (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Spiritual intervention appears to be a potentially beneficial intervention for increasing mental strengths among those suffering from breast cancer. Therefore, it seems necessary to consider it as an important element incomprehensive treatment, plans, and in palliative and supportive care.
Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
R
R
Fallah
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allame Tabatabai University. Tehran, Iran.
M
M
Golzari
Behavioural Sciences Research Center. Baghiiatallah University, Tehran, Iran.
M
M
Dastani
Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
M E
ME
Akbari
Breast neoplasm; Happiness; Hope; Life satisfaction; Spiritual therapies