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The role of religious and spiritual beliefs in coping with malignant melanoma
Author(s) -
Holland Jimmie C.,
Passik Steven,
Kash Kathryn M.,
Russak Simcha M.,
Gronert Melissa K.,
Sison Antonio,
Lederberg Marguerite,
Fox Bernard,
Baider Lea
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1611(199901/02)8:1<14::aid-pon321>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , existentialism , spirituality , distress , clinical psychology , psychology , cognition , melanoma , positive correlation , negative correlation , psychotherapist , medicine , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology , philosophy , epistemology , cancer research
This study investigated the role of spiritual and religious beliefs in ambulatory patients coping with malignant melanoma. One‐hundred and seventeen patients with melanoma being seen in an outpatient clinic completed a battery of measurements including the newly validated Systems of Belief Inventory (SBI‐54). No correlation was found between SBI‐54 scores and levels of distress. However, there was a correlation between greater reliance on spiritual and religious beliefs and use of an active–cognitive coping style ( r =0.46, p <0.0001). Data suggest that use of religious and spiritual beliefs is associated with an active rather than passive form of coping. We suggest that such beliefs provide a helpful active–cognitive framework for many individuals from which to face the existential crises of life‐threatening illness. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.