Determination of Ontological Well‐Being and Self‐Compassion Levels in Patients with Mastectomy: A Cross‐Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Individuals who undergo mastectomy encounter many psychosocial problems, and individuals need to be evaluated psychosocially during the surgery process. Although the concepts of ontological well-being and self-compassion are new in the literature, they provide important clues for the psychosocial evaluation of individuals. AIM: This study was planned to determine the ontological well-being and self-compassion levels of individuals who have had a mastectomy. METHODS: The study was planned with a descriptive and cross-sectional design and conducted in the general surgery clinic of a training and research hospital. Data were collected face-to-face by reaching 96 individuals who had mastectomy operations. Data were collected using the 'Socio-demographic information form, Self-compassion scale-short form (SCS-SF), and Ontological well-being scale (OWBS)'. Statistical methods were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: When the study findings were examined, a statistically positive but weak relationship was found between the ontological well-being and self-compassion levels of individuals who had a mastectomy (r = 0.363, p < 0.05), and a statistically positive but weak relationship was found between all dimensions of OWBS and SCS-SF (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The significant relationship between the ontological well-being and self-compassion levels of individuals who have had a mastectomy and many sociodemographic characteristics reveals that these two psychosocial factors should be evaluated. In addition, the high levels of ontological well-being and self-compassion of individuals and the positive effects of these two concepts on each other are variables that should be considered. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: The study results provide insight into the ontological well-being and self-compassion levels of individuals who have had a mastectomy. Nurses can determine patients' coping skills and quality of life by examining how individuals evaluate the past, present, and future within the scope of ontological well-being and the level of compassion they show to themselves while making psychosocial assessments. With these values determined, a comprehensive nursing plan can contribute to individuals' complete state of psychosocial well-being.