Work

Appraisals of cancer, religious/spiritual coping, and hope in patients with colorectal cancer

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To examine the extent to which religious/spiritual coping moderates the association between stress appraisals and hope among patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN/RESEARCH APPROACH: A longitudinal, prospective examination of hope, stress appraisals of cancer, and religious/spiritual coping through self-report questionnaires at baseline, 6-months, and 12-months post-surgery. SAMPLE/PARTICIPANTS: One hundred thirty-nine newly diagnosed patients with colorectal cancer recruited from tertiary medical centers. FINDINGS: Challenge and threat appraisals predicted hope. Only the relationship between hope and challenge appraisals was significantly moderated by coping through religion/spirituality, such that those who were both low on challenge and low in religious/spiritual coping reported the lowest hope. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Hope is predicted by how people appraise their cancer. Hope was lowest among participants who reported both low challenge appraisals and religious/spiritual coping. IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL PROVIDERS: Understanding how patients appraise their cancer and use religion/spirituality to cope may help providers understand which patients are at risk for low hope.

Source: Journal of Psychosocial Oncology

DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2022.2108743

Authors: Maya Atlas, Tae L. Hart

Institution: Toronto Metropolitan University

Language: English

Topic: Optimism, Hope, and Well-being

Subfield: Applied Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Lance Armstrong Foundation, National Institute of Mental Health