Abstract
Aim This study explored the nature of spiritual beliefs and their role in regulating various life outcomes of cancer survivors. Method A heterogeneous sample of thirty diagnosed cancer patients with age ranging from 18 to 75 years participated in the study. The study employed a qualitative research design which involved semi-structured interviews and the thematic analysis of the audiotaped contents of these interviews. Results The analyses led to five themes regarding the spiritual beliefs of the participants. The identified themes were: “optimistic change towards life”, “fighting spirit towards life”, “enhanced trust in family and friends”, “improved realistic self-perception”, and “positive thinking with future orientations”. Conclusions The findings of the study showed that spiritual beliefs represented a complex phenomenon comprising cognitive, affective and behavioural components. Spiritual beliefs also carried many positive outcomes to regain and maintain psychological balance, well-being, quality of life and health. It also facilitated the patients to have strong desires to compensate their losses due to ill health by setting and achieving higher spiritual, social and interpersonal goals by carrying out social services, sacrifice and altruistic deeds.
Highlights
It was explicit that the beliefs in the theory of karma, rebirth, and incessant presence of divine powers were the major attributes of spiritual beliefs of the cancer survivors
The findings of the study revealed that spiritual belief is an important phenomenon comprising cognitive, affective and behavioural components and carry many positive outcomes to regain and maintain psychological balance, well-being and quality of life, as well physical and mental health
The findings revealed five major themes regarding the spiritual beliefs of the cancer survivors
Summary
The following were the major objectives of the present study: 1. To further explore the role of spiritual beliefs on the perceived life outcomes among a heterogeneous sample of cancer survivors, and2. To develop an understanding of the mechanisms inherent in spiritual beliefs impacting the life of a heterogeneous sample of cancer survivors
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