title: African American cancer survivors: do cultural factors influence symptom distress?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine how the cultural factors, stigma, being strong, and religiosity influence symptom distress in African American cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive correlational study was designed using the Sociocultural Stress and Coping Framework. Seventy-seven African American cancer survivors, recruited from oncology clinics and the community in North Carolina, completed a questionnaire that consisted of measures of demographic and illness characteristics, the Perceived Stigma Scale, the Ways of Helping Questionnaire, the Religious Involvement Scale, and the Symptom Distress Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two cultural factors that were significantly associated with symptom distress were stigma (β = .23, p < .05) and organized religion (β = -.50, p < .05). No significant associations were found between being strong or nonorganized religiosity and symptom distress. The most commonly reported symptoms were fatigue (M = 2.44, SD = 1.20), pain (M = 2.26, SD = 1.43), and insomnia (M = 1.95, SD = 1.25).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study indicate that the cultural factors, stigma, and organized religiosity were significantly associated with symptom distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from this study can be used to guide researchers in developing culturally appropriate interventions aimed at alleviating symptom distress in African American cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Finney
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA jhamilto@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Jill B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.affiliation: Novion Analytics, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Bosny J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Pierre-Louis
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Crandell
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Hyman B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Muss
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality*; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: African Americans; cancer; cultural factors; symptom distress