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Is Higher Acceptance Associated With Less Anticipatory Grief Among Patients in Palliative Care?
Esther L Davis1, Frank P Deane1, Geoffrey C B Lyons2
1School of Psychology and Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW, Australia.
Context:
Patients in palliative care can experience substantial psychological suffering. Acceptance-based interventions from approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy have demonstrated effectiveness in helping people cope with a range of life challenges. However, there is a dearth of research examining mechanisms of therapeutic change for patients in palliative care.
Objectives:
To assess the relationships between acceptance, anticipatory grief, anxiety, and depression among patients in palliative care.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was verbally administered to inpatients (N = 73) receiving palliative care.
Results:
Correlations revealed that acceptance had a strong relationship with anticipatory grief, anxiety, and depression. A hierarchical regression analysis on anticipatory grief showed that acceptance was the largest predictor and accounted for an additional 13% of variance in anticipatory grief over and above anxiety and depression.
Conclusion:
The present study provides preliminary data suggesting that interventions that target acceptance may be indicated in patients in palliative care.
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