Abstract
Background: Hope is an important resource and reserve for patients with hematological malignancies to cope with stress. Through analyzing hope levels and its influencing factors, this study provides evidence for developing psychological interventions for this population.
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the influencing factors of hope in patients with hematological malignancies.
Methods: A cross-sectional study including 165 participants with hematological malignancies was performed from November 2019 through June 2020 in a tertiary hospital in Beijing, China. The Adult Dispositional Hope Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, Self-esteem Scale, and Big Five Short-Form Scale were used to evaluate each variable. Regression analysis was conducted to explore the influencing factors of hope.
Results: The total mean hope level (40.39 +/- 4.32) was significantly lower than the national norm. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that openness ([beta] = .38, P < .001), neuroticism ([beta] = -0.25, P < .001), rigor ([beta] = -0.15, P = .043), self-esteem ([beta] = .33, P < .001), positive response ([beta] = .22, P < .001), negative response ([beta] = .12, P = .039), and residential region ([beta] = .17, P = .002) were significantly associated with the total hope level among patients with hematological malignancies. Self-esteem and openness were positively correlated with the total mean hope score and its 3 subdimensions.
Conclusion: The hope level was relatively low in patients with hematological malignancies. Hope level was affected by individual personality traits, coping styles, self-esteem, and loneliness.
Implication for Practice: Attention should be drawn to the relationship between the hope level and positive psychological characteristics among patients with hematological malignancies. Our study supports the need to develop tailored and effective interventions to improve the level of hope among this patient population.