Exploring the relationship between illness perception, self-transcendence, and demoralization in patients with lung cancer: A latent profile and mediation analysis.
Chunyan He, Shuhui Liu, Xiaoping Ding, Yinying Zhang, Jie Hu, Feng Yu, Deying Hu
Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing December 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.apjon.2024.100638 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAmong 477 lung cancer patients in three Chinese hospitals, three distinct patterns of illness perception emerged: low (27%), moderate (40%), and high (33%). Patients with more negative illness perceptions experienced greater demoralization, but this relationship was partially explained by lower self-transcendence—the ability to find meaning beyond oneself. Promoting self-transcendence may help reduce the demoralizing effects of negative illness perceptions in lung cancer care.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey with latent profile and mediation analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 477 |
| Population | Patients with lung cancer from three tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China |
| Keywords | Demoralization Illness perception Latent profile analysis Lung cancer Mediation analysis |
| Key finding | Self-transcendence partially mediated the relationship between illness perception and demoralization among lung cancer patients, with three distinct illness perception profiles identified. |
Abstract
This study examined the heterogeneity of illness perceptions in patients with lung cancer and evaluated the mediating role of self-transcendence in the relation between illness perception and demoralization. A convenience sample of 477 patients with lung cancer was selected from three tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China, between January and June 2024. Participants completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Self-Transcendence Scale, and Demoralization Scale. Data were analyzed using Mplus 8.3 and SPSS 25.0. Three latent illness perception profiles were identified among patients with lung cancer: low (27.25%), moderate (40.04%), and high (32.71%). Mediation analyses revealed a partial mediation effect in the relation between illness perception and demoralization in the low versus moderate (SE = 1.56, 95% CI = 14.71, 20.86) and high versus low illness perception groups (SE = 1.71, 95% CI = 35.44, 42.71). Patients with lung cancer exhibited heterogeneous illness perceptions, and self-transcendence partially mediated the relation between illness perception and demoralization. Promoting self-transcendence may help mitigate the negative impact of illness perceptions on demoralization. Clinical interventions aimed at reducing negative illness perceptions and enhancing self-transcendence should be prioritized in the care of patients with lung cancer.