Determinants of Life Satisfaction among Patients with Cancer in Sri Lanka: An Analysis of Socio-demographic and Clinical Factors

Background: Life satisfaction is a key indicator of psychological well-being among patients with cancer. To date, evidence from low- and middle-income countries remains scarce. This study aimed to assess life satisfaction among Sri Lankan patients with cancer selected from a rural territory and examine the influence of socio-demographic and clinical factors on their well-being. 
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 patients with cancer attending the oncology follow-up clinics and inpatient unit of the Teaching Hospital Badulla, Sri Lanka. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and life satisfaction was measured using the pretested Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Group comparisons were conducted using t-tests and ANOVA. The General Linear Model (GLM) assessed combined effects of socio-demographic and clinical factors on life satisfaction.  
Results: The sample was comprised of 422 patients (50.2% female; mean age = 48 ± 13 years). The mean SWLS score was 23.0 (SD ± 6.0). Significant differences in life satisfaction were found in marital status (p < 0.001), education level (p <0 .001), employment status (p <0 .001), cancer type (p < 0.001), and treatment modality (p < 0.001). Further, patients with bladder (p < 0.001) and breast cancers (p < 0.001) and those receiving radiotherapy (p < 0.001) demonstrated higher scores. Married (p < 0.001), employed (p < 0.001), and higher educated patients reported greater satisfaction (p < 0.001). The GLM revealed significant main and interaction effects (adjusted R² = 0.65, p < 0.001).  
Conclusions: Life satisfaction among Sri Lankan patients with cancer living in a rural territory is shaped by both socio-demographic and clinical factors. Targeted psychosocial interventions such as counseling, family-inclusive support, and vocational guidance particularly for widowed, unemployed, less educated, and chemotherapy treated patients are essential to enhance well-being and support survivorship care.