Relationship between psychological well-being and social capital and resilience among cancer patients

Context: Research revealed resilience can decrease the effects of stress and improve quality of life among cancer patients. The role of positive factors such as psychological well-being and social capital is separately studied in cancer.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between the psychological well-being and social capital with resilience among cancer patients.

Setting and Design: This descriptive correlational study conducted on 163 cancer patients were selected patients referring to Touba Specialized Clinic in Sari from May to December 2018.

Materials and Methods: The data collection tools included Demographics Questionnaire, Riff ’s Psychological Well-being Scale (-2002), Onyx-Bullen’s Social Capital Questionnaire (2000), and Connor-Davidson’s Resilience Scale (2003).

Statistical Analysis Used: SPPS 20 and descriptive and inferential statistical methods (Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis and linear regression, Spearman correlation coefficient,) were employed. P < 0.05 was considered as the level of significance.

Results: The results revealed that the mean (standard deviation) of the psychological well-being, social capital, and resilience were 69.71 ± 5.49, 118.60 ± 8.51, and 78.48 ± 8.68, respectively. The study showed a positive and significant correlation between psychological well-being and resilience (r = 0.797; P = 0.001), and between social capital and resilience (r = 0.716, P = 0.001). The findings revealed that psychological well-being and social capital explained 70% of the resilience variation.

Conclusion: The results showed that psychological well-being and social capital have high relationship with cancer patients’ resilience and it suggested through developing appropriate interventions on psychological well-being and social capital, it is possible to improve the cancer patients’ resilience.