Religiosity and spirituality in military veteran cancer survivors: a qualitative perspective.
Religiosity/spirituality (R/S) is often involved in coping with cancer. Qualitative research effectively captures the individuality of R/S constructs. Fourteen military veteran cancer survivors participated in focus groups. R/S questions included "How have your religious/spiritual beliefs affected how you cope with your cancer" and "How have your religious/spiritual beliefs changed as a result of your experience with cancer?" Five primary themes emerged: impact of cancer on R/S, meaning-making, prayer, religious/spiritual role of others, and facing death. Consistency and individuality characterized the role of R/S in cancer survivorship across themes. Implications for future research are discussed.
Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. trevino.kelly@gmail.com
Kelly M
KM
Trevino
Elizabeth
E
Archambault
Jennifer L
JL
Schuster
Michelle M
MM
Hilgeman
Jennifer
J
Moye
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012067:Religion; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*