Abstract
This study examined racial/ethnic differences in spiritual well-being (SWB) among survivors of cancer. We hypothesized higher
levels of Peace and Faith, but not Meaning, among Black and Hispanic survivors compared to White survivors, differences that
would be reduced but remain significant after controlling for sociodemographic and medical factors. Hypotheses were tested
with data from the American Cancer Society’s Study of Cancer Survivors-II. The FACIT-Sp subscale scores, Meaning, Peace, and
Faith assessed SWB, and the SF-36 Physical Component Summary measured functional status. In general, bivariate models supported
our initial hypotheses. After adjustment for sociodemographic and medical factors, however, Blacks had higher scores on both
Meaning and Peace compared to Hispanics and Whites, and Hispanics’ scores on Peace were higher than Whites’ scores. In contrast,
sociodemographic and medical factors had weak associations with Faith scores. The pattern with Faith in bivariate models persisted
in the fully adjusted models. Racial/ethnic differences in Meaning and in Peace, important dimensions of SWB, were even stronger
after controlling for sociodemographic and medical factors. However, racial/ethnic differences in Faith appeared to remain
stable. Further research is needed to determine if racial/ethnic differences in SWB are related to variations in quality of
life in survivors of cancer.
levels of Peace and Faith, but not Meaning, among Black and Hispanic survivors compared to White survivors, differences that
would be reduced but remain significant after controlling for sociodemographic and medical factors. Hypotheses were tested
with data from the American Cancer Society’s Study of Cancer Survivors-II. The FACIT-Sp subscale scores, Meaning, Peace, and
Faith assessed SWB, and the SF-36 Physical Component Summary measured functional status. In general, bivariate models supported
our initial hypotheses. After adjustment for sociodemographic and medical factors, however, Blacks had higher scores on both
Meaning and Peace compared to Hispanics and Whites, and Hispanics’ scores on Peace were higher than Whites’ scores. In contrast,
sociodemographic and medical factors had weak associations with Faith scores. The pattern with Faith in bivariate models persisted
in the fully adjusted models. Racial/ethnic differences in Meaning and in Peace, important dimensions of SWB, were even stronger
after controlling for sociodemographic and medical factors. However, racial/ethnic differences in Faith appeared to remain
stable. Further research is needed to determine if racial/ethnic differences in SWB are related to variations in quality of
life in survivors of cancer.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10865-012-9439-8
- Authors
- Andrea L. Canada, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, 1653 W. Congress Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- George Fitchett, Departments of Religion, Health, and Human Values and Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Patricia E. Murphy, Departments of Religion, Health, and Human Values and Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Kevin Stein, Behavioral Research Center, American Cancer Society, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA
- Kenneth Portier, Statistics and Evaluation Center, American Cancer Society, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA
- Corinne Crammer, Behavioral Research Center, American Cancer Society, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA
- Amy H. Peterman, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, USA
- Journal Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1573-3521
- Print ISSN 0160-7715