title: Spiritual well-being and coping in scleroderma, lupus erythematosus, and melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Religious/spiritual (R-S) well-being is associated with greater vitality and lower depression scores. In this study, we investigated strategies for coping with disease and the role of religiosity/spirituality with respect to improving subjective well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-nine patients (107 women), 44 of whom with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 48 with lupus erythematosus (LE), and 57 with stage I or II malignant melanoma (MM) were surveyed using a self-designed questionnaire, which addressed subjective well-being and disease-related circumstances, as well as the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (MI-RSWB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the time of diagnosis, disease burden is greater in LE patients than in patients with SSc and MM. Only after several years are SSc and LE patients able to accept their disease. Compared with healthy individuals, the overall score of R-S well-being is significantly lower in LE patients. In LE, photosensitivity and joint pain are inversely correlated with the ability to forgive. SSc patients with facial lesions and pulmonary involvement show greater religiosity. MM patients display significantly higher values for transcendental hope.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Talks about the disease and psychological support are the most important needs of patients with SSc, LE, and MM. At present, programs aimed at improving R-S coping skills do not seem to play a significant role, but could be an important resource that should be addressed in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilch
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Sabina Nadine
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Scharf
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lukanz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Nora Johanna
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wutte
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fink-Puches
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical University Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glawischnig-Goschnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria.|Center for Integrative Addiction Research (Grüner Kreis), Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Human-Friedrich
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Unterrainer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aberer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000523:psychology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000523:psychology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000523:psychology*; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires