Gender Differences in Psychosocial, Religious, and Spiritual Aspects in Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study with Cancer Patients
Background: There is a growing awareness of religiosity and/or spirituality (R/S) as a possible resource in coping with cancer. Gender differences in religious coping have not yet been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to analyze differences in religious coping between men and women with cancer...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Mary Ann Liebert
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Women's Health Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/WHR.2021.0012 |
| _version_ | 1797342318939865088 |
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| author | Anahita Rassoulian Alexander Gaiger Henriette Loeffler-Stastka |
| author_facet | Anahita Rassoulian Alexander Gaiger Henriette Loeffler-Stastka |
| author_sort | Anahita Rassoulian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: There is a growing awareness of religiosity and/or spirituality (R/S) as a possible resource in coping with cancer. Gender differences in religious coping have not yet been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to analyze differences in religious coping between men and women with cancer and compare the impact of R/S on anxiety and depression symptoms.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Divisions of Hematology and Oncology of the Medical University of Vienna. In total, 352 patients with a cancer diagnosis, who regarded themselves as religious and/or spiritual, were interviewed at Vienna's university hospital with standardized questionnaires. To answer our research questions, we used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Benefit Through Spirituality/Religiosity (Benefit) questionnaire, and collected demographic characteristics.
Results: Of 689 cancer patients, 51% (352) regard themselves as religious and/or spiritual. Women with cancer tend toward R/S more significantly (57%) than men (45%). In patients with an R/S belief, women scored higher in almost all items of the Benefit questionnaire and showed higher prevalence of anxiety (p?<?0.001) and depression than men. Regarding the socioeconomic characteristics, more women were widowed, and had significantly lower income than men.
Conclusions: The results show a significant gender gap concerning the importance of R/S for cancer patients and the effect on psychological well-being.
Women in this study were more religious/spiritual than men and scored higher on anxiety and depression. We support the notion that the gender perspective is essential and can contribute to better patient care in identifying gender-specific concerns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:31:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-84ca7d585f29426d9c07f1bf9fca71ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2688-4844 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:31:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Mary Ann Liebert |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Women's Health Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-84ca7d585f29426d9c07f1bf9fca71ca2024-01-27T04:01:33ZengMary Ann LiebertWomen's Health Reports2688-48442021-10-012146447210.1089/WHR.2021.0012Gender Differences in Psychosocial, Religious, and Spiritual Aspects in Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study with Cancer PatientsAnahita RassoulianAlexander GaigerHenriette Loeffler-StastkaBackground: There is a growing awareness of religiosity and/or spirituality (R/S) as a possible resource in coping with cancer. Gender differences in religious coping have not yet been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to analyze differences in religious coping between men and women with cancer and compare the impact of R/S on anxiety and depression symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Divisions of Hematology and Oncology of the Medical University of Vienna. In total, 352 patients with a cancer diagnosis, who regarded themselves as religious and/or spiritual, were interviewed at Vienna's university hospital with standardized questionnaires. To answer our research questions, we used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Benefit Through Spirituality/Religiosity (Benefit) questionnaire, and collected demographic characteristics. Results: Of 689 cancer patients, 51% (352) regard themselves as religious and/or spiritual. Women with cancer tend toward R/S more significantly (57%) than men (45%). In patients with an R/S belief, women scored higher in almost all items of the Benefit questionnaire and showed higher prevalence of anxiety (p?<?0.001) and depression than men. Regarding the socioeconomic characteristics, more women were widowed, and had significantly lower income than men. Conclusions: The results show a significant gender gap concerning the importance of R/S for cancer patients and the effect on psychological well-being. Women in this study were more religious/spiritual than men and scored higher on anxiety and depression. We support the notion that the gender perspective is essential and can contribute to better patient care in identifying gender-specific concerns.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/WHR.2021.0012cancergender differencesreligionreligious copingpsychosocialspirituality |
| spellingShingle | Anahita Rassoulian Alexander Gaiger Henriette Loeffler-Stastka Gender Differences in Psychosocial, Religious, and Spiritual Aspects in Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study with Cancer Patients Women's Health Reports cancer gender differences religion religious coping psychosocial spirituality |
| title | Gender Differences in Psychosocial, Religious, and Spiritual Aspects in Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study with Cancer Patients |
| title_full | Gender Differences in Psychosocial, Religious, and Spiritual Aspects in Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study with Cancer Patients |
| title_fullStr | Gender Differences in Psychosocial, Religious, and Spiritual Aspects in Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study with Cancer Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender Differences in Psychosocial, Religious, and Spiritual Aspects in Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study with Cancer Patients |
| title_short | Gender Differences in Psychosocial, Religious, and Spiritual Aspects in Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study with Cancer Patients |
| title_sort | gender differences in psychosocial religious and spiritual aspects in coping a cross sectional study with cancer patients |
| topic | cancer gender differences religion religious coping psychosocial spirituality |
| url | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/WHR.2021.0012 |
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