Relationship between self-transcendence and quality of life among lung cancer patients: A latent profile analysis

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to identify the latent profiles of self-transcendence in lung cancer patients and examine the relationship between these memberships and QoL.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and September 2025, recruiting 318 lung cancer patients via convenience sampling at a teaching hospital in Sichuan Province, China. Data were collected by using the Demographic Information Form, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung Cancer Scale (FACT-L), and the Self-Transcendence Scale (STS). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0, employing both latent profile analysis to identify subgroups and hierarchical regression to explore predictive relationships.

Results: Three latent profiles were identified among lung cancer patients: "limited self-transcenders (n = 153, 48.1%)," "conditional self-transcenders (n = 86, 27.1%)," and "autonomous self-transcenders (n = 79, 24.8%)." Significant differences were detected between the profiles in terms of gender, age, educational attainment, employment status, monthly household income, illness duration, tumour type, disease stage, and metastasis status (all p < 0.05). Different profiles of self-transcendence were positively correlated with QoL among lung cancer patients, with an R-squared change (ΔR²) of 0.117 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Self-transcendence exhibited significant heterogeneity and a positive correlation with QoL among lung cancer patients. Based on individual profile membership, tailored interventions can be designed to optimize the QoL in lung cancer patients.