To investigate the relationship between psychosocial adaptation and quality of life of patients with ostomies and to provide reference data for clinical care practice. Surgical enterostomy impacts the life of patient. Most patients are transferred to home or community hospital after discharge and require long-term nursing care. These patients typically face problems with physical, psychological and social adaptation. Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Between March 2017-June 2017, the following questionnaires were electronically administered to 1,053 patients with enterostomy residing in 22 provinces, 4 autonomous regions for ethnic minorities and 4 direct-controlled municipalities in China: Social Support Revalued Scale, validated Chinese version of Ostomy Adjustment Inventory and Stoma-Quality of life-Chinese. Univariate analysis, correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between adaptation level and quality of life of patients with enterostomy, in order to provide reference data for clinical care practice and further improve the quality of life of these patients. The STROBE checklist was used in reporting this study. The mean score for psychosocial adaptation was 43.13 ± 13.09, which corresponded to a medium level; the mean score for quality of life was 56.54 ± 16.87. The level of psychosocial adaptation and each dimension showed a positive correlation with the quality of life of patient and each dimension (r = 0.349-0.890, p < 0.01). Univariate analysis revealed a signification association of quality of life with education level, medical payment method, area of residence, peristomal complications, regular defecation, occurrence of leaking, ability for self-care of stoma, communication between patient and medical staff, and knowledge and skills pertaining to care of stoma. Results of hierarchical regression analysis indicated that psychosocial adaptation level was a predictor of quality of life (R2  = 0.708; p < 0.001). In this study, the quality of life of patients with enterostomy was generally of a medium level. The level of psychosocial adaptation of the patient was closely linked to quality of life. During clinical care, concerted efforts should be made to encourage the patients to deal with the stoma positively and to help the patient and their families accept the stoma and change of image to reduce the adaption course and improve the quality of life. Patients tend to take a long time to adapt to the stoma after ostomy formation. Facilitating the adjustment of patients with enterostomy may improve their quality of life. Medical care providers should focus more attention on patients who have lower ostomy adjustment scores. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.