Causal modeling of psychological adjustment to disease in cancer patients based on emotion regulation and self-compassion with the mediating role of spiritual health

  This study aimed to model the causal psychological adaptation to illness in cancer patients based on emotion regulation and self-compassion with the mediating role of spiritual health.

 The present study was applied for purpose and correlational research. The statistical population of the study was patients aged 18 to 65 years with breast, blood, stomach, and intestinal cancer referred to the oncology ward of Omid and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Urmia in the first half of 1400. 250 people were selected. Data collection tools included a short form of a Cancer Adaptation Questionnaire, an Emotion Regulation Process Strategies Questionnaire, a Self-Compassion Scale, and a Spiritual Health Questionnaire. In order to analyze data, the Pearson correlation coefficient test and structural equation modeling, SPSS software version 23, and Amos and bootstrap were used.

 According to the results, strategies focused on the precedent of emotion regulation (B = 0.372) had a significant direct and positive effect, strategies focused on the emotion regulation response (B = -0.555) had a significant direct and adverse effect, and compassion. They (B = 0.383) have a direct positive and significant effect on psychological adjustment to the disease. The results of the model fit indices also showed that spiritual health has a mediating role in the relationship between emotion regulation and psychological adjustment to illness but does not mediate in the relationship between self-compassion and psychological adjustment to illness.

  Emotion regulation and self-compassion directly affect mental adjustment to disease and the mediating role of spiritual health is significant.