Abstract
Female first degree relatives of breast cancer patients experience worry because of their own increased breast cancer risk. The aim in the present study was to examine the role of daily spiritual experiences as a potential protective factor against breast cancer worry. We hypothesized that daily spiritual experiences would moderate the relationship between relatives’ stage of disease and breast cancer worry. Sixty-three mothers, daughters or sisters of breast cancer survivors completed surveys assessing relative’s disease characteristics and their own demographics, fear of breast cancer, and daily spiritual experiences. All participants were living in the midwestern United States. Results showed that daily spiritual experiences moderated the relationship between stage of disease and breast cancer worry. Low scores on daily spiritual experiences were associated with more worry when relatives had advanced disease, and high scores on daily spiritual experiences was associated with less worry when relatives had advanced disease. Findings suggest the need to focus on this population when providing support services to families of patients.
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This research was funded by the Walther cancer foundation.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by S. Bigatti and J. Lydon-Lam. Anna Maria Storniolo completed the recruitment. J. Lydon-Lam completed first draft of manuscript, and all authors contributed additional content to subsequent drafts. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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The study was approved by the IUPUI Institutional Review Board protocol number 1009001667. All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Bigatti, S.M., Lydon-Lam, J. & Storniolo, A.M. Breast Cancer Worry in U.S. Female First-degree Relatives: Moderating Role of Daily Spiritual Experiences. J Relig Health 62, 3466–3479 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01807-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01807-6