From Pain Interference to Hope: Exploring Spiritual Well-being as a Pathway for Patients With Cancer

Background Pain interference is a significant factor affecting the emotional and psychological well-being of patients with cancer, often leading to decreased hope. Recent studies suggest that spiritual well-being may mediate this relationship, offering a potential pathway to improving patients’ resilience and quality of life. Objective This study investigates the impact of pain intensity, pain interference, spiritual well-being, and other factors on the hope of patients with cancer. Additionally, the study examined the mediating effect of spiritual well-being on the relationship between pain interference and hope of patients with cancer. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 288 patients with cancer receiving treatment at a chemotherapy center in Turkey. Data were collected using validated tools, including the Brief Pain Inventory, Herth Hope Index, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Analytic tests included independent sample t tests, Mann-Whitney U , and Kruskal-Wallis tests and SPSS PROCESS Macro Model 4. Results Pain interference negatively correlated with hope ( r = −0.356, P < .001), whereas spiritual well-being positively correlated with hope ( r = 0.483, P < .001). Mediation analysis confirmed that spiritual well-being partially mediated the relationship between pain interference and hope, explaining 33.8% of the total effect. Conclusions Spiritual well-being plays a critical role in mitigating the adverse effects of pain interference on hope among patients with cancer. Implications for Practice Integrating spiritual care into oncology practice may enhance patients’ psychological resilience. Holistic interventions addressing both physical and spiritual needs should be prioritized in cancer care to foster hope and improve overall well-being.