Table 3.
Gender Differences in Response to Four Specific NIH Healing Experiences in All Life Stressors Reflection & Introspection (Factor 2) Items in Patients with Serious and/or Life-Limiting Illness
| Reflection & Introspection items | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Items | Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither agree nor disagree | Agree | Strongly agree | p | |
| I enjoy activities that involve both mind/body such as meditation, prayer, yoga, tai chi, chanting. | Men (n = 90) | 9 (10) | 7 (8) | 31 (34) | 29 (32) | 14 (16) | <0.001b |
| Women (n = 103) | 0 (0) | 6 (6) | 24 (23) | 41 (40) | 32 (31) | ||
| Difficult circumstances in my life have increased my compassion toward others. | Men (n = 89) | 1 (1) | 4 (4) | 17 (19) | 46 (52) | 21 (24) | 0.005c |
| Women (n = 101) | 0 (0) | 3 (3) | 9 (9) | 49 (49) | 40 (40) | ||
| I have an increased sense of gratitude. | Men (n = 90) | 0 (0) | 4 (4) | 21 (23) | 39 (43) | 26 (29) | 0.014d |
| Women (n = 103) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) | 12 (12) | 49 (48) | 41 (40) | ||
| Life challenges raised my desire to be more positive. | Men (n = 90) | 0 (0) | 5 (6) | 24 (27) | 46 (51) | 15 (17) | 0.044d |
| Women (n = 103) | 0 (0) | 4 (4) | 18 (18) | 54 (52) | 27 (26) | ||
Data are presented as frequencies (percentages). Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding to the nearest whole number.
a
p-Values are from comparisons of data between genders.
Statistical significance at: bp < 0.001; cp < 0.01; dp < 0.05.