Impact of Physical Discomfort and Anxiety on the Spiritual Well-being and Quality of Life of Families of Patients with Terminal Cancer: Mediating Effect of Meaning in Life

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of physical discomfort and anxiety on the spiritual well-being and quality of life of families with terminally ill patients with cancer, focusing on meaning in life as a mediating factor.Methods: Out of the 230 questionnaires distributed, 186 were selected for analysis.Data collection included physical discomfort, anxiety, meaning in life, spiritual well-being, and quality of life.Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling with SPSS/WIN 26.0 and AMOS 26.0.Results: Out of the total 186 participants, 73.1% were female, and the average age was 54.25 12.63 years.Physical discomfort and anxiety were found to significantly influence participants' meaning in life, with a total explanatory power of 28%.In addition, anxiety and meaning in life significantly affected spiritual well-being, explaining 67% of the variance.Meaning in life influenced quality of life with a 66% explanatory power and mediated the relationship between anxiety and spiritual well-being among family caregivers of terminal cancer patients, enhancing both spiritual well-being and quality of life.Conclusion: The findings suggest that meaning-centered interventions centered on meaning in life for family caregivers of patients with life-threatening illness are crucial.