Religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients: the mediating role of religious comfort and struggle

Objectives Religiosity may serve as a personal source of support when people face a life-threatening illness, but it can also elicit stress. The main aim of this study is to show how various religious dimensions interplay in predicting death anxiety in patients diagnosed as having cancer. Material...

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Main Authors: Radosław Rybarski, Rafał P. Bartczuk, Jacek Śliwak, Beata Zarzycka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 2023-09-01
Series:International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ijomeh.eu/Religiosity-and-death-anxiety-among-cancer-patients-the-mediating-role-of-religious,167376,0,2.html
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author Radosław Rybarski
Rafał P. Bartczuk
Jacek Śliwak
Beata Zarzycka
author_facet Radosław Rybarski
Rafał P. Bartczuk
Jacek Śliwak
Beata Zarzycka
author_sort Radosław Rybarski
collection DOAJ
description Objectives Religiosity may serve as a personal source of support when people face a life-threatening illness, but it can also elicit stress. The main aim of this study is to show how various religious dimensions interplay in predicting death anxiety in patients diagnosed as having cancer. Material and Methods In the cross‐sectional, descriptive‐analytical research, 141 Polish patients who were hospitalized due to cancer were selected using sequential convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Centrality of Religiosity Scale, Religious Comfort and Strain Scale , and the Death Anxiety and Dying Distress Scale . Results The authors’ results show that the effect of the centrality of religiosity on death anxiety is non-linear. We can also confirm the mediating role of religious comfort and struggles in the relationship between the centrality of religiosity and death anxiety. Conclusions Thus, religious struggles appear to weaken the effect of religion on death anxiety, whereas religious comfort (contrary to expectation) does not enhance it. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):450–64
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spelling doaj.art-95f8169cb9e048689e7e9099d755204b2023-11-21T13:39:18ZengNofer Institute of Occupational MedicineInternational Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health1232-10871896-494X2023-09-0136445046410.13075/ijomeh.1896.02094167376Religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients: the mediating role of religious comfort and struggleRadosław Rybarski0Rafał P. Bartczuk1Jacek Śliwak2Beata Zarzycka3The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland (Institute of Psychology)The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland (Institute of Psychology)The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland (Institute of Psychology)The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland (Institute of Psychology)Objectives Religiosity may serve as a personal source of support when people face a life-threatening illness, but it can also elicit stress. The main aim of this study is to show how various religious dimensions interplay in predicting death anxiety in patients diagnosed as having cancer. Material and Methods In the cross‐sectional, descriptive‐analytical research, 141 Polish patients who were hospitalized due to cancer were selected using sequential convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Centrality of Religiosity Scale, Religious Comfort and Strain Scale , and the Death Anxiety and Dying Distress Scale . Results The authors’ results show that the effect of the centrality of religiosity on death anxiety is non-linear. We can also confirm the mediating role of religious comfort and struggles in the relationship between the centrality of religiosity and death anxiety. Conclusions Thus, religious struggles appear to weaken the effect of religion on death anxiety, whereas religious comfort (contrary to expectation) does not enhance it. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):450–64http://ijomeh.eu/Religiosity-and-death-anxiety-among-cancer-patients-the-mediating-role-of-religious,167376,0,2.htmlreligious copingcancer patientsdeath anxietyreligiosityreligious strugglereligious comfort
spellingShingle Radosław Rybarski
Rafał P. Bartczuk
Jacek Śliwak
Beata Zarzycka
Religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients: the mediating role of religious comfort and struggle
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
religious coping
cancer patients
death anxiety
religiosity
religious struggle
religious comfort
title Religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients: the mediating role of religious comfort and struggle
title_full Religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients: the mediating role of religious comfort and struggle
title_fullStr Religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients: the mediating role of religious comfort and struggle
title_full_unstemmed Religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients: the mediating role of religious comfort and struggle
title_short Religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients: the mediating role of religious comfort and struggle
title_sort religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients the mediating role of religious comfort and struggle
topic religious coping
cancer patients
death anxiety
religiosity
religious struggle
religious comfort
url http://ijomeh.eu/Religiosity-and-death-anxiety-among-cancer-patients-the-mediating-role-of-religious,167376,0,2.html
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AT rafałpbartczuk religiosityanddeathanxietyamongcancerpatientsthemediatingroleofreligiouscomfortandstruggle
AT jaceksliwak religiosityanddeathanxietyamongcancerpatientsthemediatingroleofreligiouscomfortandstruggle
AT beatazarzycka religiosityanddeathanxietyamongcancerpatientsthemediatingroleofreligiouscomfortandstruggle