Religiousness and hope in Hispanic- and Anglo-American women with breast cancer

Oncol Nurs Forum. 1993 Sep;20(8):1171-7.

Abstract

Religiousness has been associated with coping with cancer in the general population, but cultural influences have not been well explicated. The purpose of this study was to compare a sample of Hispanic-American women to a matched sample of Anglo-American women on selected religious variables and on a measure of hope. A sample of 25 Hispanic and 25 Anglo women diagnosed with breast cancer completed a hope scale, a spiritual well-being scale, and a religiousness scale and responded to selected demographic and medical questions. The only significant difference between the two groups was in intrinsic religiousness, with Hispanic women scoring higher (t = 2.07, df = 24, p < 0.05). Among Hispanics, neither intrinsic nor extrinsic religiousness was more important in predicting either existential well-being or hope. However, intrinsic religiousness was a more important predictor of religious well-being and total spiritual well-being than was extrinsic religiousness. Among Anglos, intrinsic religiousness was a stronger predictor of spiritual well-being and of hope. Religiousness may be an important variable affecting both the spiritual and the psychological health of women with breast cancer; this study also suggests cultural differences.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Breast Neoplasms / nursing
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Religion*
  • Southwestern United States
  • White People / psychology*