Introduction. A cancer or rheumatic disease or and its associated bio-psycho-social connotations may affect the perception of purpose and sense of life in young patients. The intensity of emotional states and their changeability often obscures the boundary between physical and mental pain, significantly impinges on the lifestyle, threatens the basic values, the social roles played as well as the world outlook and their own identity. For someone entering adult life disrupted by a chronic illness and frequent attendant difficult experiences, the perception of purpose and sense of life acquires particular significance.
Material and methods. The study involved 124 young people of both sexes between 14 and 20 years of age hospitalised for cancer (group I - 82 patients) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (group II - 42 patients). Pain intensity was measured the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Cantril's Self- Anchoring Ladder was used to assess life satisfaction, whereas the PIL (Purpose in Life) Test was used to evaluate the perception of sense and purpose in life.
Results. Young patients registered high scores as regards their life, both current and anticipated and also demonstrated a clear purpose and sense in life regardless of group.
Conclusions. No significant connections between pain intensity and satisfaction in life were found. Such a result may have been influenced by the low pain intensity. Young patients demonstrated a sense of purpose in life, but their hierarchy of values and priorities in life was influenced by the kind of disease and the associated awareness of life in danger.