Objective: Religiosity is an important source of consolation among individuals suffering from cancer. However, religion does not always bring comfort. Religious struggles elicit stress. We examined whether religious comfort predicts anxiety in patients diagnosed as having cancer. Hope was examined as a mediator and religious struggle as a moderator in this relationship.Methods: In this cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical research, 77 Polish women with cancer were selected using sequential convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Religious Comfort and Strain Scale, the Adult Hope Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A statistical procedure using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression was employed.Results: Religious comfort correlated negatively with anxiety (.007) and positively with hope (.006). Hope correlated negatively with anxiety (.011). Hope was a mediator in the relationship between religious comfort and anxiety: indirect effect (IE) = −0.07; 90% CI, −0.161 to −0.001. Patients who derive more comfort from religion feel stronger hope and, consequently, lower anxiety. The index of moderated mediation (IMM) was significant when we introduced fear-guilt as a moderator: IMM = 0.07; 90% CI, 0.001-0.007. Thus, the effect of religious comfort on anxiety reduction through hope is bigger if the experience of religious fear-guilt is smaller.Conclusions: Religion appears to protect against developing anxiety because it enhances hope. However, religious guilt can stop cancer patients from using their religious resources.

The aim of the study was to analyze the connection between religious comfort and struggle and quality of life in Alcoholics Anonymous. The interaction effect of the length of abstinence and religious variables on the quality of life was tested as well. The participants were 100 members of an Alcoholics Anonymous group. We used the Religious Comfort and Strain Scale by Yali, Exline, Wood, and Worthington and the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adults by Schalock and Keith. The correlation analysis showed that Religious Comfort correlated positively while fear–guilt and negative emotions towards God correlated negatively with quality of life in the AA group. Duration of abstinence played a moderating role: participants in the long abstinence period group with high religious comfort showed the highest level of quality of life.

The aim of the research was to analyze the relationships of religious comfort and struggle with state anxiety and satisfaction with life in homosexual and heterosexual samples of men. A hundred and eight men aged between 18 and 43 participated in the research in total, 54 declared themselves as homosexual and 54 as heterosexual. The Religious Comfort and Strain Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were applied to the research. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that sexual orientation moderated the relationships of religious comfort and struggle with state anxiety and satisfaction with life. The highest state anxiety was observed in homosexual participants with high negative social interactions surrounding religion scores. Negative religious social interactions with fellow congregants and religious leaders, including disapproval and criticism, create anxiety among homosexual people. It seems that homosexual participants are engaged in a trade-off between valued and necessary religious engagement and the harassment and persecution they may be forced to endure in order to access that engagement.

The aim of the study was to analyze the connection between religious comfort and struggle and quality of life in Alcoholics Anonymous. The interaction effect of the length of abstinence and religious variables on the quality of life was tested as well. The participants were 100 members of an Alcoholics Anonymous group. We used the Religious Comfort and Strain Scale by Yali, Exline, Wood, and Worthington and the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adults by Schalock and Keith. The correlation analysis showed that Religious Comfort correlated positively while fear-guilt and negative emotions towards God correlated negatively with quality of life in the AA group. Duration of abstinence played a moderating role: participants in the long abstinence period group with high religious comfort showed the highest level of quality of life.