Meaning in Life as a Predictor of Depression among Breast Cancer Patients

Breast cancer is one of life's most difficult and dispiriting event leading to physical suffering and psychological distress. For treating breast cancer, mostly the physical aspect of illness is concerned while ignoring the psychological and the spiritual component. While the cancer experience does not always leads to depression, it has been identified as a risk for depression (Raison & Miller, 2003). In the clinical setting of cancer, meaning in life may well have a central role in the life changes the illness experience brings about. Meaning in life can assist coping by offering a framework, perspective, and counterbalance to the challenge of illness. The present study aims at identifying the different dimensions of meaning in life i.e. harmony and peace; life perspective, purpose and goal; confusion and lessened meaning; and benefits of spirituality, as the predictors of depression among breast cancer patients. Sample for the study was the stage II and III 200 breast cancer patients with age range of 40-70 years. The Indian adaptation of Meaning in life scale (Warner & Williams, 1987) and Beck Depression Inventory- II (Beck et al, 1996) was used. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that life perspective, purpose and goal; and confusion and lessened meaning came out as significant predictors of depression among breast cancer patients. The study implies a need for designing an intervention program to enhance meaning in life so as to minimize depression among breast cancer patients.