Role of religious involvement and spirituality in functioning among African Americans with cancer: testing a mediational model

Abstract

The present study tested a mediational model of the role of religious involvement, spirituality, and physical/emotional functioning in a sample of African American men and women with cancer. Several mediators were proposed based on theory and previous research, including sense of meaning, positive and negative affect, and positive and negative religious coping. One hundred patients were recruited through oncologist offices, key community leaders and community organizations, and interviewed by telephone. Participants completed an established measure of religious involvement, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-SP-12 version 4), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Meaning in Life Scale, the Brief RCOPE, and the SF-12, which assesses physical and emotional functioning. Positive affect completely mediated the relationship between religious behaviors and emotional functioning. Though several other constructs showed relationships with study variables, evidence of mediation was not supported. Mediational models were not significant for the physical functioning outcome, nor were there significant main effects of religious involvement or spirituality for this outcome. Implications for cancer survivorship interventions are discussed.

Religion and Health in African Americans: The Role of Religious Coping

“…16 In a sample of African American men and women diagnosed with cancer, positive and negative religious coping were examined as potential mediators of the relationship between religious beliefs/behaviors and physical and emotional functioning. 17 Whereas no evidence for mediation was detected in this sample, negative religious coping was associated with poorer emotional functioning. These studies illustrate the role of religious coping in physical health-related outcomes among African Americans.…”

Intrinsic religiousness and well-being among cancer patients: the mediating role of control-related religious coping and self-efficacy for coping with cancer

“…A growing body of research suggests that religious factors play an important role in both cancer-screening behaviors and coping with cancer illness among people of color (Allen et al, 2013; Holt et al, 2011; Umezawa et al, 2012). Future studies are needed that focus on different psychosocial mechanisms that link specific religious constructs and well-being among cancer patients (e.g., Park et al, 2009; Pérez et al, 2011), especially among culturally diverse populations that experience health disparities.…”

Positive self-perceptions as a mediator of religious involvement and health behaviors in a national sample of African Americans

“…Based on previous work (Roth, et al, 2012; Holt, et al, 2012; Holt, Oster, et al, 2011; Holt, Wang, et al, 2011), four items were considered measures of beliefs, and 5 items assessed behaviors. Seven of the items used a 5-point Likert-type response format, and two monthly service attendance items used a 3-point response format (0; 1–3; 4+ times per month).…”