Abstract
It has been suggested that spirituality is associated with higher well-being, because it offers social support, improves the relationship with the partner, provides meaning, and reduces self-focus and worry. We performed a qualitative study among ten people with cancer, using the Consensual Qualitative Research method for the analysis of semi-structured interviews. Support was found for the mechanisms of meaning provision and of reduction of self-focus and worries. Participants also mentioned emotion-focused roles of spirituality: Feeling supported by a transcendental confidant, the expression of negative emotions (in prayer), acceptance, allowing feelings of misery, and viewing problems from a distance. There was no mention of a contribution of spirituality to adjustment through improved social support per se or a higher quality of the relationship with the partner. The results of the present study indicate that the role of spirituality in emotion regulation deserves attention in understanding how spirituality helps cancer patients to adjust to their disease.
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Notes
We read the article of James and Wells only after having finished the CQR procedures. So, the selection of fragments and the categorization of these fragments was not influenced by previous knowledge of the pathways in their theoretical framework.
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This work was financed by the Dutch Cancer Society; Grant Number HDI 2008-4076.
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Bert Garssen and Nicoline Uwland-Sikkema have contributed equally to the study.
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Garssen, B., Uwland-Sikkema, N.F. & Visser, A. How Spirituality Helps Cancer Patients with the Adjustment to their Disease. J Relig Health 54, 1249–1265 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9864-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9864-9