Relationship between levels of anxiety, Self-Compassion, and Spiritual wellbeing among Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Abdel-Hamid Zaki, Rania; Sayed Mohammed, Hoda; Ezz El-Din Prince, Hanaa

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2022.219056

Relationship between levels of anxiety, Self-Compassion, and Spiritual wellbeing among Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing1 Faculty of Nursing-Ain Shams University

² Lecturer of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing-Ain Shams University

³ Lecturer of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing,Faculty of Nursing-Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2022.219056

Abstract

Background: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is marked by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and
worry about everyday life events for no obvious reason. Spirituality and self-compassion are two positive
psychological factors that have been associated with reduced anxiety levels among patients with
generalized anxiety disorder. Aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between levels of anxiety,
Self-Compassion, and Spiritual wellbeing among Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Design:
A Descriptive correlational research design was used. Sample. A purposive sample included 120 patients
with generalized anxiety disorder who attended the outpatient clinic for psychiatric patients at El Abassia
mental health hospital. Tools of data collection: The data was collected using 1) interviewing
questionnaire to assess the demographic data of patients with generalized anxiety disorder 2) the Self
compassion scale (SCS), 3) the Beck anxiety scale (BAI), and 4) Spiritual well-being scale (SWB).
Results: The results showed that more than half (54%) of patients under study were had severe levels of
anxiety, the majority (84%) had a low total level of self-compassion, 58 % of them were had low level of
spiritual well-being and there were highly statistically significant differences between all levels of self -
compassions subscales and spiritual wellbeing subscales. Moreover, there was a positive correlation
between levels of self -compassions and levels of spiritual wellbeing and a negative correlation between
anxiety levels, self-compassion, and spiritual wellbeing among patients’ understudies. Conclusions: This
study concluded that more than half of patients with generalized anxiety disorder understudy were had
severe levels of anxiety and low level of spiritual well-being, and most of them were had low levels of
self-compassion. In addition, it was a positive correlation between total levels of self -compassions
subscales and total levels of spiritual wellbeing subscales of patients with generalized anxiety disorder
under study. Recommendations: This study recommended, designing, and implementing nursing
intervention programs for enhancing self-compassion, spiritual wellbeing, and decrease anxiety levels
among patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

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