Physical symptoms distress and demoralization among haemodialysis patients; the mediating effect of spirituality and self-compassion. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey

Background: Long-term haemodialysis patients often experience physical symptom distress (PSD) and varying levels of demoralization. Spirituality and self-compassion can help patients to cope these challenges. However, the interrelations between these variables remain underexplored, necessitating fur...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chia-Hui Lin, Yi-Chien Chiang, Wen-Yi Li, Tsung-Lan Chu, Ya-Chu Hsiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X24001152
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849722812745383936
author Chia-Hui Lin
Yi-Chien Chiang
Wen-Yi Li
Tsung-Lan Chu
Ya-Chu Hsiao
author_facet Chia-Hui Lin
Yi-Chien Chiang
Wen-Yi Li
Tsung-Lan Chu
Ya-Chu Hsiao
author_sort Chia-Hui Lin
collection DOAJ
description Background: Long-term haemodialysis patients often experience physical symptom distress (PSD) and varying levels of demoralization. Spirituality and self-compassion can help patients to cope these challenges. However, the interrelations between these variables remain underexplored, necessitating further investigation. Objectives: To examine the effect of PSD on demoralization among haemodialysis patients and to determine whether spirituality and self-compassion mediate these relationships. Design: A cross-sectional correlational study. Settings: A convenience sample was used to recruit from two haemodialysis clinics. Methods: Self-report questionnaires were the Physical Symptom Distress Scale, Demoralization Scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale-12, and Self-Compassion Scale. Relationships and mediators were examined with Pearson's correlations and multiple linear regression analysis, respectively. Results: A total of 156 participants participated. Mean age of participants was 61.3 years (SD = 11.3). Most participants were male (66 %) and had received dialysis for ≥ 5 years (61.5 %). Pearson's correlation indicated higher scores for PSD were significantly associated with lower levels of spirituality and self-compassion and higher levels of demoralization. There was a significant total and direct effect of PSD on demoralization. Mediation analysis indicated that the relationship between PSD and demoralization was partially and significantly mediated by spirituality and self-compassion. Demoralization can be explained by 46.83 % variance accounted by these predictors in the mediation model. Conclusion: Long-term haemodialysis can cause chronic symptom distress and feelings of demoralization. The mediating effects of spirituality and self-compassion on PSD and demoralization suggest that these qualities may act as emotional regulators that enable haemodialysis patients to be more accepting of symptom distress, which results in lower levels of demoralization. Our findings imply that developing strategies to increase spirituality and self-compassion could help patients manage chronic symptom distress associated with haemodialysis, reduce demoralization, and ultimately improve their quality of life.
format Article
id doaj-art-b4b96bb3396a48768a2926ffb04209b4
institution DOAJ
issn 2666-142X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances
spelling doaj-art-b4b96bb3396a48768a2926ffb04209b42025-08-20T03:11:14ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Nursing Studies Advances2666-142X2025-06-01810028810.1016/j.ijnsa.2024.100288Physical symptoms distress and demoralization among haemodialysis patients; the mediating effect of spirituality and self-compassion. A cross-sectional questionnaire surveyChia-Hui Lin0Yi-Chien Chiang1Wen-Yi Li2Tsung-Lan Chu3Ya-Chu Hsiao4Nurse practitioner in the Hemodialysis, Department of National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Yunlin, TaiwanDepartment of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Main Branch, TaiwanDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Yunlin 640, Taiwan; College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanAdministration Center of Quality Management Department, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, TaiwanDepartment of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Administration Center of Quality Management Department, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Taiwan; Corresponding author at: Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, No.261, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan District, Taoyuan City, 333 03 Taiwan.Background: Long-term haemodialysis patients often experience physical symptom distress (PSD) and varying levels of demoralization. Spirituality and self-compassion can help patients to cope these challenges. However, the interrelations between these variables remain underexplored, necessitating further investigation. Objectives: To examine the effect of PSD on demoralization among haemodialysis patients and to determine whether spirituality and self-compassion mediate these relationships. Design: A cross-sectional correlational study. Settings: A convenience sample was used to recruit from two haemodialysis clinics. Methods: Self-report questionnaires were the Physical Symptom Distress Scale, Demoralization Scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale-12, and Self-Compassion Scale. Relationships and mediators were examined with Pearson's correlations and multiple linear regression analysis, respectively. Results: A total of 156 participants participated. Mean age of participants was 61.3 years (SD = 11.3). Most participants were male (66 %) and had received dialysis for ≥ 5 years (61.5 %). Pearson's correlation indicated higher scores for PSD were significantly associated with lower levels of spirituality and self-compassion and higher levels of demoralization. There was a significant total and direct effect of PSD on demoralization. Mediation analysis indicated that the relationship between PSD and demoralization was partially and significantly mediated by spirituality and self-compassion. Demoralization can be explained by 46.83 % variance accounted by these predictors in the mediation model. Conclusion: Long-term haemodialysis can cause chronic symptom distress and feelings of demoralization. The mediating effects of spirituality and self-compassion on PSD and demoralization suggest that these qualities may act as emotional regulators that enable haemodialysis patients to be more accepting of symptom distress, which results in lower levels of demoralization. Our findings imply that developing strategies to increase spirituality and self-compassion could help patients manage chronic symptom distress associated with haemodialysis, reduce demoralization, and ultimately improve their quality of life.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X24001152SpiritualitySelf-compassionDemoralizationHaemodialysisSymptom distress
spellingShingle Chia-Hui Lin
Yi-Chien Chiang
Wen-Yi Li
Tsung-Lan Chu
Ya-Chu Hsiao
Physical symptoms distress and demoralization among haemodialysis patients; the mediating effect of spirituality and self-compassion. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey
International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances
Spirituality
Self-compassion
Demoralization
Haemodialysis
Symptom distress
title Physical symptoms distress and demoralization among haemodialysis patients; the mediating effect of spirituality and self-compassion. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey
title_full Physical symptoms distress and demoralization among haemodialysis patients; the mediating effect of spirituality and self-compassion. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey
title_fullStr Physical symptoms distress and demoralization among haemodialysis patients; the mediating effect of spirituality and self-compassion. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey
title_full_unstemmed Physical symptoms distress and demoralization among haemodialysis patients; the mediating effect of spirituality and self-compassion. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey
title_short Physical symptoms distress and demoralization among haemodialysis patients; the mediating effect of spirituality and self-compassion. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey
title_sort physical symptoms distress and demoralization among haemodialysis patients the mediating effect of spirituality and self compassion a cross sectional questionnaire survey
topic Spirituality
Self-compassion
Demoralization
Haemodialysis
Symptom distress
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X24001152
work_keys_str_mv AT chiahuilin physicalsymptomsdistressanddemoralizationamonghaemodialysispatientsthemediatingeffectofspiritualityandselfcompassionacrosssectionalquestionnairesurvey
AT yichienchiang physicalsymptomsdistressanddemoralizationamonghaemodialysispatientsthemediatingeffectofspiritualityandselfcompassionacrosssectionalquestionnairesurvey
AT wenyili physicalsymptomsdistressanddemoralizationamonghaemodialysispatientsthemediatingeffectofspiritualityandselfcompassionacrosssectionalquestionnairesurvey
AT tsunglanchu physicalsymptomsdistressanddemoralizationamonghaemodialysispatientsthemediatingeffectofspiritualityandselfcompassionacrosssectionalquestionnairesurvey
AT yachuhsiao physicalsymptomsdistressanddemoralizationamonghaemodialysispatientsthemediatingeffectofspiritualityandselfcompassionacrosssectionalquestionnairesurvey