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“We both just trusted and leaned on the Lord”: a qualitative study of religiousness and spirituality among African American breast cancer survivors and their caregivers

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Abstract

Purpose

Most breast cancer (BC) survivorship research focuses on the general population of survivors. Scant research investigates the potentially unique experiences of minorities, especially during and after the difficult transition from primary treatment to post-treatment. This qualitative study explored African American BC survivors’ and caregivers’ quality-of-life in the post-treatment period with a focus on social and spiritual well-being.

Methods

Participants included a convenience sample of African American women with stage I–III BC (N = 23) who completed treatment 6–24 months before enrollment. Primary caregivers (N = 22) included friends, spouses and other family members (21 complete dyads). Participants completed separate semi-structured telephone interviews. Template analysis was used to evaluate themes related to religiousness and spirituality, both across and within dyads.

Results

After treatment, religiousness and spirituality played a major role in both survivors’ and caregivers’ lives by: (1) providing global guidance, (2) guiding illness management efforts and (3) facilitating recovery. Participants described a spiritual connectedness with God and others in their social networks. Dyad members shared the goal of keeping a positive attitude and described positive growth from cancer. Few future concerns were expressed due to the belief that survivors were healed and “done” with cancer. Beyond practical and emotional support, provision of spiritual assistance was common.

Conclusions

Results highlight the principal, positive role of religiousness and spirituality for African American BC survivors and caregivers after treatment. Findings emphasize the need to assess the importance of religious and spiritual beliefs and practices, and if appropriate, to provide resources that promote spiritual well-being.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a pilot grant from the Nancy R. Gelman Foundation. Katherine R. Sterba was supported by a Mentored Research Scholar Grant in Applied and Clinical Research, MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB from the American Cancer Society. Jessica L. Burris was supported by Grant T32DA007288 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Sue Heiney was partially supported by Grant 5R01CA107305-3 from the National Cancer Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 68 President Street MSC 955, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Katherine Regan Sterba, Marvella E. Ford & Jane Zapka

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Jessica L. Burris

  3. College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Sue P. Heiney

  4. Department of Surgery, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Megan Baker Ruppel

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  1. Katherine Regan Sterba
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Correspondence to Katherine Regan Sterba.

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Sterba, K.R., Burris, J.L., Heiney, S.P. et al. “We both just trusted and leaned on the Lord”: a qualitative study of religiousness and spirituality among African American breast cancer survivors and their caregivers. Qual Life Res 23, 1909–1920 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0654-3

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