Relation among Hope, Social Support, and Death Anxiety Among Patients with Cancer

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a life-threatening illness that can significantly affect patients’ psychological well-being. Hope and social support are considered important psychosocial resources that may influence patients’ ability to cope with illness and death-related concerns.
Aim: To examine the relation among hope, social support, and death anxiety among patients with cancer.
Methods: A descriptive correlational design was employed. The study was conducted on a convenience sample of 85 patients at the Oncology Clinic of Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Data was collected using four tools: Socio-Demographic and Clinical Data Questionnaire, Herth Hope Index (HHI), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS–Arabic version), and Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale (T-DAS).
Results: The majorities of the patients with cancer experienced moderate levels of hope, social support, and death anxiety. Conclusion: A statistically significant positive relationship was found between hope and perceived social support, whereas death anxiety was not significantly associated with either hope or perceived social support.
Recommendation: Psychological counseling should be provided to patients and their families to strengthen families’ ability to provide psychological support and help patients cope with death-related concerns and reduce death anxiety.