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Is Religiosity Associated with Cancer Screening? Results from a National Survey

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Abstract

This study examined the following: (1) relationships between religiosity—as measured by religious service attendance—and screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers; (2) the potential mediating role of social support; and (3) the potential moderating effect of race/ethnicity. Statistical analyses showed that religiosity was associated with greater utilization of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening. Social support fully mediated the relationship between religiosity and Pap screening, and partially mediated the relationship between religiosity and colorectal screening, but had no effect on the relationship between religiosity and mammography screening. Race/ethnicity moderated the relationship between religiosity and social support in the cervical cancer screening model, such that the positive association between religiosity and social support was stronger for non-Hispanic Blacks than it was for non-Hispanic Whites. These findings have implications for the role of social networks in health promotion and can inform cancer screening interventions in faith-based settings.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by Cooperative Agreement Number U48DP001946 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings and conclusions in this journal article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Behavioral Research Program, Process of Care Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA

    Bryan Leyva & Stephen H. Taplin

  2. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Behavioral Research Program, Science of Research and Technology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr., Rockville, MD, 20850, USA

    Anh B. Nguyen & Richard P. Moser

  3. Division of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

    Jennifer D. Allen

  4. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Jennifer D. Allen

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  1. Bryan Leyva
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  2. Anh B. Nguyen
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  3. Jennifer D. Allen
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  4. Stephen H. Taplin
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  5. Richard P. Moser
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Correspondence to Bryan Leyva.

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Leyva, B., Nguyen, A.B., Allen, J.D. et al. Is Religiosity Associated with Cancer Screening? Results from a National Survey. J Relig Health 54, 998–1013 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9843-1

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