title: Spiritual well-being and depressive symptoms among cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Depression is common among patients diagnosed with cancer and may be inversely associated with spiritual well-being. While numerous strategies are employed to manage and cope with illness, spiritual well-being has become increasingly important in cancer survivorship research. This study examined the association between spiritual well-being and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study utilized self-report data from 102 diverse cancer survivors recruited from peer-based cancer support groups in San Diego County. Depression was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) and spiritual well-being was measured with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-Sp) comprised of two subscales (Meaning/Peace and Faith).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hierarchal regression analysis indicated that Meaning/Peace significantly predicted depressive symptoms after adjusting for socio-demographics, cancer stage, time since diagnosis, and Faith (p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that Spiritual Well-Being is a valuable coping mechanism and that Meaning/Peace has a unique advantage over Faith in protecting cancer survivors from the effects of depression symptoms; therefore, turning to Faith as source of strength may improve psychological well-being during survivorship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future programs and healthcare providers should be cognizant of the influential role of spiritual well-being in depression symptoms in an effort to improve psychological well-being among cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Ct. St. 115, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA, pgonzalez@mail.sdsu.edu.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Sheila F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Castañeda
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buelna
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Talavera
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D029181:Spirituality; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*