Abstract
This study explored the role of relationship with God with respect to the quality of life of men with prostate cancer. Thirty-four men with prostate cancer completed questionnaires on demographic and illness factors, aspects of relationship with God (e.g., God image), nonreligious resources (e.g., optimism) and physical, social and emotion functioning. Results showed that relationship with God was a significant factor in the prediction of role, emotional and social functioning for these men after controlling for age, reported severity of treatment reactions and nonreligious resources. Notably, different aspects of relationship with God (e.g., causal attribution) evidenced different associations with functioning and the nonreligious resource of perceived health control. Such results suggest that relationship with God may function in a complex manner as a resource in coping with prostate cancer. Longitudinal research is needed to clarify the role of religious/spiritual resources in the short- and long-term quality of life of men with prostate cancer.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sharp JW, Blum D, Aviv L. Elderly men with cancer: Social work interventions in prostate cancer. Soc Work Health Care 1993;19(1):91–107.
National Cancer Institute (United States).http://www. seer.cancer.gov/publications/prostate/summary.pdf,2003.
Cancer Research UK. http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/ default. asp? page=2656,2003.
Altwein J, Ekman P, Barry M, et al. How is quality of life in prostate cancer patients in fluenced by modern treatment? The Wallenberg Symposium. J Urol 1997;49(Supplement 4A):66–76.
Talcott JA, Rieker P, Clark JA, et al. Patient-reported symptoms after primary therapy for early prostate cancer: Results of a prospective cohort study. J Clin Oncol 1998; 16(1):275–283.
Clark JA, Wray N, Brody B, Ashton C, Giesler B, Watkins H. Dimensions of quality of life expressed by men treated for metastatic prostate cancer. Soc Sci Med 1997;45(8): 1299–1309.
Pirl WF, Mello J. Psychological complications of prostate cancer, Oncol 2002;16(1):1448–1453.
Shrader-Bogen CL, Kjellberg JL, McPherson CP, Murray CL. Quality of life and treatment outcomes: Prostate carcinoma patients' perspectives after prostatectomy or radiation therapy. Cancer 1997;79(10):1977–1986.
Schag CAC, Ganz PA, Wing DS, et al. Quality of life in adult survivors of lung, colon and prostate cancer. Qual Life Res: Int J Qual Life Aspects Treatment, Care Rehabil 1994;3(2):127–141.
Bjorck JP, Hopp DP, Jones LW. Prostate cancer and emotional functioning effects of mental adjustment, optimism,and appraisal.J Psychosoc Oncol 1999;17(1): 71–85.
Lepore SJ, Helgeson VS. Social constraints, intrusive thoughts,and mental health after prostate cancer. J Soc Clin Psychol 1998;17(1):89–106.
Khouzam HR. Prayer and the treatment of depression in a case of prostate cancer. Clin Gerontol 1996;17(1):69–73.
Steginga SK, Occhipinti S, Dunn J, Gardiner RA, Heath-cote P, Yaxley J. The supportive care needs of men with prostate cancer. Psycho-Oncology 2001;10:66–75.
Conway K. Coping and stress of medical problems among black and white elderly. Int J Aging Human Develop 1985–1986;2:39–48.
Fitchett G, Rybarczyk BD, DeMarco GA. The role of religion in medical rehabilitation outcomes: A longitudinal study. Rehabil Psychol 1999;44(4):333–353.
Koenig HG, Cohen HJ, Blazer DG, et al. Religious coping and depression among elderly, hospitalized medically ill men. Am J Psychiatr 1992;149:1693–1700.
Colantonio A, Kasl S, Kasl V, Ostfeld AM. Depressive symptoms and other psychosocial factors as predictors of stroke in the elderly. Am J Epidemiol 1992;136:884–894.
Levin JS, Vanderpool HY. Is religion therapeutically signicant for hypertension? Soc Sci Med 1989;29:69–78.
Watson JS. Religion as a cultural phenomenon, and national mortality rates from heart disease. Psychol Rep 1991;69:439–442.
Dwyer JW, Clarke LL, Miller MK. The effect of religious concentration and affiliation on county cancer mortality rates. J Health Soc Behav 1990;31:185–202.
Koenig HG, George LK, Hays JC, Larson DB, Cohen HJ, Blazer DG. The relationship between religious activities and blood pressure in older adults. Int J Psychiatr Med 1998;28(2):189–213.
Ai AL, Dunkle RE, Peterson C, Bolling SF. The role of private prayer in psychological recovery among midlife and aged patients following cardiac surgery. Gerontologist 1998;38(5):591–601.
Oxman TE, Freeman DH, Manheimer ED. Lack of social participation or religious strength and comfort as risk factors for death after cardiac surgery in the elderly. Psychosom Med 1995;57:5–15.
Levin JS. Religion and health: Is there an association,is it valid and is it causal? Soc Sci Med 1994;38(11):1475–1482.
Heim E, Augustiny KF, Shaffner L, Valach L. Coping with breast cancer over time and situation. J Psychosom Res 1993;37(5):523–542.
Johnson SC, Spilka B. Coping with breast cancer: The role of clergy and faith. J Relig Health 1991;30(1):21–33.
Krause K. Coping with cancer. Western J Nurs Res 1993; 15(1):31–43.
Meyer MS, Altmaier EM, Burns CP. Religious orientation and coping with cancer. J Relig Health 1992;31:273–279.
Mickley J, Soeken K, Belcher A. Spiritual well-being, religiousness and hope among women with breast cancer. Image: J Nurs Scholarship 1992;24(4):267–272.
Jenkins RA, Pargament KI. Cognitive appraisals in cancer patients. Soc Sci Med 1988;26:625–633.
Moadel A, Morgan C, Fatone A, et al. Seeking meaning and hope: Self-reported spiritual and existential needs among an ethnically-diverse cancer patient population. Psycho-Oncology 1999;8:378–385.
Cavanaugh M. Ministering to cancer patients. J Human Psychol 1994;33(3):231–241.
Highfield MF. Spiritual health of oncology patients: Nurse and patient perspectives. Cancer Nurs 1992;15(1):1–8.
Gall TL, Miguez de Renart RM, Boonstra B. Religious resources in long-term adjustment to breast cancer. J Psychosoc Oncol 2000;18(2):21–37.
Kaczorowski JM. Spiritual well-being and anxiety in adults diagnosed with cancer. Hospice J 1989;5(3/4):105–116.
Holland JC, Passik S, Kash KM, et al. The role of religious and spiritual beliefs in coping with malignant melanoma. Psycho-Oncology 1999;8:14–26.
Gall TL. Integrating religious resources within a general model of stress and coping:Long-term adjustment to breast cancer. J Relig Health 2000;39(2):167–182
Yates JW, Chalmer BJ, St. James P, Follansbee M, McKegney FP. Religion in patients with advanced cancer. Med Pediatr Oncol 1981;9:121–128.
Brady MJ, Peterman AH, Fitchett G, Mo M, Cella D. A case for including spirituality in quality of life measurement in Oncology. Psycho-Oncology 1999;8:417–428.
Jenkins RA, Pargament KI. Religion and spirituality as resources for coping with cancer. J Psychosoc Oncol 1995; 13(1–2):51–73.
Acklin MW, Brown EC, Mauger PA. The role of religious values in coping with cancer. J Health Religion 1983;22: 322–333.
Pargament KI, Ensing DS, Falgout K, et al. God help me (I):Religious coping efforts as predictors of the outcomes of significant negative life events. Am J Commun Psychol 1990;18:793–824.
Ersek M, Ferrell BR. Providing relief from cancer pain by assisting in the search for meaning. J Palliative Care 1994; 10(4):15–22.
Burkhardt MA. Becoming and connecting: Elements of spirituality for women. Holistic Nurs Prac 1994;8(4):12–21.
Gaskins S, Forté L. The meaning of hope: Implications for nursing practice and research. J Gerontol Nurs 1995;21(3):17–24.
Overcash WS, Calhoun LG, Cann A, Tedeschi RG. Coping with crises: An examination of the impact of traumatic events on religious beliefs. J Gene Psychol 1996;157(4):455–464.
Maton KI. The stress-buffering role of spiritual support: Cross-sectional and prospective investigations. J Sci Study Relig 1989;28:310–333.
Park CL, Cohen LH. Religious and nonreligious coping with the death of a friend. Cognitive Ther Res 1993;17: 561–577.
Park CL. Stress-related growth and thriving through coping: The roles of personality and cognitive processes. J Soc Issues 1998;54(2):267–277.
Pargament KI, Sullivan MS, Tyler FB, Steele RE. Patterns of attribution of control and individual psychosocial competence. Psychol Rep 1982;51:1243–1252.
Aldwin CM. Stress, Coping, and Development: An Integrative Perspective. New York: Guilford Press,1994.
Feher S, Maly RC. Coping with breast cancer in later life: The role of religious faith. Psycho-Oncology 1999;8:408–416.
Frazer GH, Brown CH, Graves TK. Assessment of quality of life indicators among selected patients in a community cancer center. Issues Mental Health Nurs 1998;19(3):241–262.
Francis LJ. The psychology of gender differences in religion:A review of empirical research. Religion 1997;27:81–96.
Angus-Reid P. Results on religious beliefs published in the Globe and Mail, April 24,2000.
Pargament KI, Hahn J. God and the just world: Causal and coping attributions to God in health situations. J Sci Study Relig 1986;25:193–207.
Pargament KI, Olsen H, Reilly B, Falgout K, Ensing DS, Van Haitsma K. God help me (II):The relationship of religious orientations to religious coping with negative life events. J Sci Study Relig 1992;31:504–513.
Spilka B. Spirituality: Problems and directions in operationalizing, a fuzzy concept. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American psychological Association,Toronto, Ontario, August,1993.
Lawrence R. Measuring the image of God: The God Image Inventory and the God Image Scales. J Psychol Theol 1997; 25(2):214–226.
Gorsuch RL. The conceptualization of God as seen in adjective ratings. J Sci Study Relig 1968;7:56–64.
Benson P, Spilka B. God image as a function of selfesteem and locus of control. J Sci Study Relig 1973;13: 297–350.
Schaefer CA, Gorsuch RL. Psychological adjustment and religiousness: The multivariate belief-motivation theory of religiousness. J Sci Study Relig 1991;30:448–461.
Scheier MF, Carver CS, Bridges MW. Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A re-evaluation of the Life Orientation Test. J Person Soc Psychol 1994;67:1063–1078.
Carver CS, Pozo C, Harris SD, et al. How coping mediates the effect of optimism on distress: A study of women with early stage breast cancer. J Person Soc Psychol 1993;65(2): 375–390.
Marshall GN. A multidimensional analysis of internal health locus of control beliefs: Separating the wheat from the chaff? J Person Soc Psychol 1991;61:484–491.
Wallston KA, Wallston BS, DeVellis R. Development of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC)Scales. Health Educ Monogr 1978;6:160–170.
Stansfeld SA, Roberts R, Foot SP. Assessing the validity of the SF-36 General Health Survey. Qual Life Res 1997;6: 217–224.
Ware JE, Snow KK, Kosinski M, Gandek B. SF-36 Health Survey: Manual and interpretation Guide. Boston, Mass.: The Health Institute, New England Medical Center, 1993.
Braam AW, Beekman ATF, van Tilburg TG, Deeg DJH, van Tilburg W. Religious involvement and depression in older Dutch citizens. Soc Psychiatr Psychiatr Epidemiol 1997;32:284–291.
Pargament KI, Smith BW, Koenig HG, Perez L. Patterns of positive and negative religious coping with major life stressors.J Sci Study Relig 1998;37(4):710–724.
Vandecreek L, Rogers E, Lester J. Use of alternative therapies among breast cancer outpatients compared with the general population. Altern Ther 1999;5(1):71–76.
Pargament KI, Brant CR. Religion and coping. In: Harold G. Koenig (ed.), Handbook of Religion and Mental Health, San Diego: Academic Press,1998.
Pargament KI. The Psychology of Religion and Coping. New York: Guilford Press,1997.
Taylor EJ, Outlaw FH, Bernardo TR, Roy A. Spiritual conflicts associated with praying about cancer. PsychoOncology 1999;8:386–394.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gall, T.L. Relationship with God and the Quality of Life of Prostate Cancer Survivors. Qual Life Res 13, 1357–1368 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QURE.0000040789.49691.59
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QURE.0000040789.49691.59