Spirituality in cancer

Abstract

The aim of this article is to provide a detailed characterization of the spirituality in cancer patients. The great importance of this area, both for theoreticians and practitioners, results from patients' search for meaning in the experience of illness and the need to cope with it on various levels (including emotional). At the very beginning, the complexity of the described phenomenon was signaled and two components of spirituality in the context of the disease were presented: cognitive and emotional. Then, terminological inaccuracies related to the definition of spirituality and religiosity faced not only by researchers, but also by patients themselves were discussed. Next, research on the correlates of spirituality in cancer patients was reviewed. The results of many studies on its relationship with the mental health of patients were presented. Potential mechanisms of the positive impact of spirituality on this sphere, discussed in the scientific literature, were presented: self-regulation, giving new meaning to experiences and religious coping. The relationship between spirituality and the demoralization syndrome and the regulation of desired and undesirable emotions is discussed. Threats related to spirituality and mental health were also indicated. The purpose of this article was also to discuss the relationship between spirituality and physical health, which is much less frequently analyzed by researchers. The results in this area are ambiguous. Research on spirituality and quality of life of cancer patients was also reviewed. Both results indicating a positive relationship between spirituality and quality of life, as well as those proving a different outcome, were presented. Attention was paid to the importance of this relationship in patients at the end of life who often experience spiritual pain. Then, barriers related to raising spiritual issues in the patient-medical staff dyad were identified. The article also addresses the complex issue of spirituality in relation to cancer survivors. Finally, the results of research on the importance of spirituality among informal caregivers of cancer patients are presented. As in the case of patients, positive and negative aspects in this area were indicated.