The role of religious coping in adjustment to prostate cancer

Abstract

This study explored the role of religious coping in men's long-term adjustment to prostate cancer. Thirty-four men with prostate cancer completed questionnaires on demographic and illness factors, religious and general coping, and physical, social, and emotional functioning. Results showed that religious coping was related to poorer role, social, and emotional functioning for these cancer survivors. In contrast, religious coping was related to positive aspects of cognitive appraisal and to both active and avoidance forms of general coping. Notably, religious coping may be used to help cancer survivors "block out" their everyday experience of the prostate cancer and its related complications. Such results suggest that religious coping functions in a complex manner within the context of long-term prostate cancer survival.