Religiosity as a Cultural Resource for Arab-Palestinian Women’s Coping with Cancer

Abstract

Drawing on the discourse analysis of 36 in-depth interviews, this qualitative study explores how Arab-Palestinian women cope with breast cancer and ascribe meaning to their illness within the local religious and traditional cultural context. In particular, the study shows that religious beliefs and practices help Arab-Palestinian women to handle emotional and psychological difficulties while perpetuating traditional cultural norms of concealment. Two main functions of religiosity as a coping resource are analyzed by (a) managing distress and identity crisis and (b) changing the meaning of the illness experience. In this sociocultural context, the practice of religious rituals provides cancer patients with an effective and culturally situated instrument for coping with a deep existential crisis. Practical implications of the study are discussed in the conclusions.

The Association Between Positive Religious Coping, Perceived Stress, and Depressive Symptoms During the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Among a Sample of Adults in Palestine: Across Sectional Study

“…For example, it encourages Muslim believers to accept the crisis and painful events as part of God’s wise plan and view crisis as a test from God to deepen one’s beliefs. On the other hand, it discourages people from “giving up on the mercy of God” and getting involved in self-harm activities (Almuhtaseb et al 2020 ).…”

Psychological Reflection of Cultural Diversity: Older Muslim and Jewish Women Diagnosed with Cancer or Caring for a Spouse with Cancer

“…Identifying the psychological and cultural disparities engendered by family cultures and belief systems may account for contrasts in coping with cancer and cancer outcomes. It may also give healthcare practitioners better understanding of the perception of roles among older women as patients and caregivers in Muslim and Jewish societies [23], as well as guide them in using cultural and spiritual traditions as tools for change and empowerment.…”

Randomized Controlled Trial Study of the Impact of a Spiritual Intervention on Hope and Spiritual Well-Being of Persons with Cancer

“…(39) Patients with cancer may rely on religious issues as important adaptive resources due to the lethal nature of cancer. (40) The results of some studies have shown that patients' spiritual needs vary based on their religious beliefs; and patients without religious beliefs had lower levels of hope and well-being than patients with religious beliefs (41,42) Thus, future studies with designing different religious affiliations and ethnicity are suggested to better clinical judgment regarding the impacts of spiritual based interventions. More investigations patients' responses can help to better understand influence of spirituality and religious on patients and their needs throughout the trajectory of a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and transition to end of life.…”