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Examining the impact of cancer on survivors' religious faith: A report from the American Cancer Society study of cancer survivors‐I
Author(s) -
Canada Andrea L.,
Murphy Patricia E.,
Stein Kevin,
Alcaraz Kassandra I.,
Leach Corinne R.,
Fitchett George
Publication year - 2020
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/pon.5374
Subject(s) - psychosocial , cancer , faith , quality of life (healthcare) , medicine , spirituality , gerontology , cancer survivor , clinical psychology , psychology , psychiatry , alternative medicine , nursing , pathology , philosophy , theology
Objectives The impact of religion/spirituality (R/S) on cancer outcomes, including health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), has been the topic of much investigation. Reports of the opposite, that is, the impact of cancer on R/S and associations with HRQoL, are few. The current study sought to explore the positive and negative impacts of cancer on the religious faith of survivors as well as the associations of such impacts with HRQoL. Methods Participants included 2309 9‐year survivors of cancer from the American Cancer Society's Studies of Cancer Survivors‐I. The impact of cancer on R/S was measured using items from the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) psychosocial impact of illness‐faith, and HRQoL was measured with the 12‐item short form (SF‐12). Hierarchical regressions were used to examine the impact of cancer on R/S controlling for medical and demographic covariates. Results Consistent with hypotheses, the majority of survivors (70%) reported that cancer had a positive impact on religious faith, while the negative impact of cancer on religious faith was relatively rare (17%). In multivariable models, the negative impact of cancer on faith was associated with poorer HRQoL, both mental and physical, while the positive impact of cancer on faith was associated with greater mental well‐being. Conclusions Cancer has a negative impact on religious faith for a minority of survivors. However, when it is reported, such negative impact is indicative of poorer mental and physical well‐being. As such, it is important to identify those survivors at risk early in survivorship and provide support and intervention as needed.