Original scientific paper

Religiosity and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients

Branka Aukst-Margetić ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Miro Jakovljević ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dragutin Ivanec ; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Branimir Margetić ; Neuropsychiatric Hospital »Dr. Ivan Barbot«, Popova~a, Croatia
Đuliano Ljubičić ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Mirko Šamija ; Department of Radiology, University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Our aim was to assess relations between the quality of life and religiosity in breast cancer patients. The participants were 115 consecutively admitted female in-patients with breast cancer in the radiotherapy unit in the course of six months. The measures used were Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF), World Health Organisation Well-Being Index Five (WHO-WBI 5) and International Breast Cancer Study Group Quality of Life (IBCSG-QL) Questionnaire. The participants responded on three statements relating to religious coping with cancer. Moderate religiosity was associated with perception of worse physical health. The statement »the illness decreased my faith« was associated with worse quality of life (QOL) domains: less well-being, more pain, poor physical health, more effort to cope, worse fatigue and less general satisfaction. The statement »the faith helps me in illness« was associated with higher social support.

Keywords

religiosity; religious coping; quality of life; breast cancer

Hrčak ID:

51513

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/51513

Publication date:

1.12.2009.

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