Examining religious/spiritual change among women with metastatic breast cancer

Abstract

AbstractTo what extent and how does religion/spirituality change after a terminal breast cancer diagnosis? Utilizing a nationwide survey and semistructured interviews, I examine how prayer, meditation, religious service attendance, importance of religion, and religiosity may change after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. Results from the survey show that most people experienced change on at least one religious/spiritual indicator. “No change” is the most common response for religiosity, importance of religion, and religious service attendance, while prayer and meditation increased. Themes from the interviews shed light on coping mechanisms, such as the increased consumption of religious texts and writings, leaning on God, (re)commitment to religious institutions, prayer, and meditation. Religion (or lack thereof) remained consistent for some of the participants. A decrease in religion was less common. The results of this study have important implications for how women with a terminal disease use religious coping to manage their illness experiences.