SELF-TRANSCENDENCE IN OLDER MEN ATTENDING A PROSTATE-CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Self-transcendence has been shown to be related to well-being in older adults, women with breast cancer women with AIDS, gay men with AIDS, and a healthy population, The purpose of this this descriptive pilot s tudy was to examine self-transcendence in another high-priority popula tion: older men with prostate cancer. A convenience sample of 23 men, age 60 and older (M = 69), from three prostate cancer support groups c ompleted Reed's Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) and a demographic data form. The men were predominantly white (82.6%), of the Catholic faith (56.5%), married (78.3%), and not working (87.0%). Over half (65.2%) h ad a college degree or higher; most viewed their health as good (69.6% ) or excellent (21.7%); and the majority (56.5%) viewed their prostate cancer as affecting some of their daily activities, These men scored high on the STS (M = 50.07), which was consistent with previous findin gs in other populations. Findings of this study contribute To Reed's m iddle-range theory of self-transcendence. The discovery that self-tran scendence is relevant to this group of older men with prostate cancer provides a basis for nurses to investigate the phenomenon in this popu lation and help their clients explore rite benefits of the self-transc endence resource.