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The Relationships Between Spiritual Well-Being, Quality of Life, and Psychological Factors Before Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer

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Abstract

Given shifting trends of religious identities in the USA, better understanding the impact of patients’ religious identities on health-related quality of life (QOL) may help tailor the use of psychological interventions. Men with prostate cancer (N = 43) completed measures of quality of life (QOL), spiritual well-being in two domains (i.e., Faith and Meaning/Peace), psychological state, and psychological trait before undergoing radiotherapy. We hypothesized that (1) higher existential Meaning/Peace would correlate with higher QOL and psychological trait protective factors (e.g., Agreeableness) and that (2) higher existential Meaning/Peace would correlate with lower depression, anxiety, and Neuroticism (i.e., a psychological trait risk factor). We did not anticipate similar relationships between religious Faith and QOL, depression, anxiety, or psychological traits and consider related analyses to be exploratory in nature. Meaning/Peace was indeed negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and Neuroticism. Meaning/Peace was positively correlated with Physical, Social, Functional, and Emotional well-being, as well as Extraversion. Religious Faith was positively associated with Functional well-being, but not the other state, trait, or QOL domains. In sum, prostate cancer patients’ sense of existential Meaning/Peace prior to radiotherapy was associated with well-being in many domains, whereas religious Faith appeared less so.

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Correspondence to Sara J. Walker.

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All procedures performed in this study were in approved by institutional review boards, in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments, and in accordance with the ethical standards of the American Psychological and Medical Associations. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Walker, S.J., Chen, Y., Paik, K. et al. The Relationships Between Spiritual Well-Being, Quality of Life, and Psychological Factors Before Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer. J Relig Health 56, 1846–1855 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0352-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0352-2

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