| pubmed-article:8415146 | pubmed:abstractText | Religiousness has been associated with coping with cancer in the general population, but cultural influences have not been well explicated. The purpose of this study was to compare a sample of Hispanic-American women to a matched sample of Anglo-American women on selected religious variables and on a measure of hope. A sample of 25 Hispanic and 25 Anglo women diagnosed with breast cancer completed a hope scale, a spiritual well-being scale, and a religiousness scale and responded to selected demographic and medical questions. The only significant difference between the two groups was in intrinsic religiousness, with Hispanic women scoring higher (t = 2.07, df = 24, p < 0.05). Among Hispanics, neither intrinsic nor extrinsic religiousness was more important in predicting either existential well-being or hope. However, intrinsic religiousness was a more important predictor of religious well-being and total spiritual well-being than was extrinsic religiousness. Among Anglos, intrinsic religiousness was a stronger predictor of spiritual well-being and of hope. Religiousness may be an important variable affecting both the spiritual and the psychological health of women with breast cancer; this study also suggests cultural differences. | lld:pubmed |
