title: Racial differences in quality of life following prostate cancer diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of race on QOL while adjusting for subjective stress and religiosity among African American and white prostate cancer patients. Although racial differences in quality of life (QOL) have been examined between African American and white prostate cancer patients, it is not known whether differences exist while adjusting for psychological and cultural factors. We predicted that African American men would report poorer emotional and physical functioning after adjusting for these factors and that greater subjective stress and lower levels of religiosity would be associated with poorer well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an observational study of QOL among 194 African American and white men who were recruited from February 2003 through March 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Race had a significant effect on emotional functioning after adjusting for perceptions of stress and religiosity. Compared with white men, African American men (P = .03) reported significantly greater emotional well-being. Greater subjective stress was associated significantly with poorer emotional functioning (P = .0001) and physical well-being (P = .0001). There were no racial differences in physical functioning (P = .76).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study highlight the importance of developing a better understanding of the context within which racial differences in QOL occur and translating this information into support programs for prostate cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Center for Community-Based Research and Health Disparities, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Chanita H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Halbert
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coyne
authors.forename: Benita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weathers
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mahler
authors.forename: Ernestine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delmoor
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: S Bruce
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Malkowicz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troxel
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D044465:White People