Ethnicity and spirituality in breast cancer survivors.
BACKGROUND
Many women are incorporating spirituality as a way of coping with cancer. However, few studies have examined the role of spirituality in mood and quality of life among breast cancer survivors from different ethnic groups.


METHODS
One hundred and seventy-five women who had completed treatment for breast cancer participated in in-depth interviews about their experiences. Transcripts were available for 161 women.


RESULTS
The majority (83%) of the women talked about their spirituality. The main themes were: (1) God as a Comforting Presence; (2) Questioning Faith; (3) Anger at God; (4) Spiritual Transformation of Self and Attitude Towards Others/Recognition of Own Mortality; (5) Deepening of Faith; (6) Acceptance; and (7) Prayer by Self. A higher percentage of African-Americans, Latinas, and Christians felt comforted by God than the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are consistent with the common assumption that more African-American and Latinas engage in spiritual activities and that African-Americans are more fatalistic than the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that there are several dimensions of spirituality experienced among cancer survivors. For many the trauma of a cancer diagnosis might deepen their faith and appreciation of life as well as changing the way they view at themselves, their lives, and how they relate to those around them, including God.
Levine
Ellen G
EG
BioBehavioral Research Center, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave. PP750, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA. elevine@sfsu.edu
Yoo
Grace
G
Aviv
Caryn
C
Ewing
Cheryl
C
Au
Alfred
A
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004644:Emotions; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D029181:Spirituality; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data