Fatalistic Beliefs Research Articles

Religious Coping in Parents of Children with Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Having a child with Down syndrome (DS) is stressful for families. Social, physical, economic and emotional difficulties are the most challenging stressors for parents of children with DS. Therefore, parents who have children with DS have used various types of coping strategies. This systematic review investigates religious coping in parents of children with DS to synthesize what is known of the literature regarding religious coping among parents of children with DS. Pubmed and Scopus databases were searched with no restriction on language and the year of publication. Additionally, manual searches of the retrieved articles' references were performed. Forty-four original studies published between 2000 and 2023 were included in the review. No study on the subject was found in either Pubmed or Scopus before 2000. Most studies were conducted in USA 7 (15.9%), Egypt 7 (15.9%), and Türkiye 6 (13.6%). In the studies, the total number of participants was 4266, range between 8 and 530 (median 55.5). The ethnic origins of the participants were very diverse and the studies included participants from many cultures around the world. Based on the studies, we identified seven themes that represented the main stressors encountered by parents/caregivers of children with DS: "information deficits," "child caregiving burdens," "familial difficulties," "financial difficulties," "challenges related to social and professional support," "society's misconceptions," and "worries about the future." The most commonly (n = 12, [27.2%]) used coping scale was coping orientation to problems experienced. Religious coping was the coping strategy most frequently used by participants in 36 (81.8%) studies. Religion, spirituality, and belief in Allah (God)were of central importance for most participants in most of the studies. Most parents reported that belief in Allah (God)encouraged them to accept the diagnosis of DS and feel better and become stronger; provided improvements in the lives of families and the necessary resources to face their difficulties; played a fundamental role in adaptation with the conditions of their children with DS; brought them peace of mind and a sense of hope; and motivated them to keep on moving forward. In conclusion, religion plays an important role in the lives of most parents of children with DS. Religious coping has been used by parents of children with DS in many cultures around the world, regardless of religion, race, or ethnicity. Belief in Allah (God),belief in fate and belief in the afterlife,provided physical, mental and psychosocial relief for most parents of children with DS.

Yaşlılık ve Dini Başa Çıkma: Ömür Dediğin Programı Örneği

Old age is a period when physiological, cognitive and psychosocial changes become more evident compared to other periods of life. During this period, there is a decrease in the body’s functional capacity. Besides, memory-related cognivite problems may be encountered. However, death, which is considered a closer possibility at old age, death of family members and relatives, loss of roles and loneliness are some of the psychosocial problems encountered. In this context, the main problem of the study is to identify the psychosocial problems faced by elderly individuals and to evaluate the process of coping with these problems from the perspective of religious psychology. Due to the change in the population structure, the rate of elderly population in our country and the world is increasing day by day. In this context, what the psychosocial problems of elderly individuals are and what methods come to the fore in the process of coping with these problems are important as it will provide data to the science of psychology and religious psychology and to relevant public and non-governmental organizations that work with elderly individuals. In the study, specific to the program "Ömür Dediğin" ıt is aimed to identify the psychosocial problems faced by elderly individuals and to reveal what kind of coping activities, especially religion, play a role in the process of coping with these problems. Within the scope of this study, the "Ömür Dediğin" program, in which elderly participants appeared as guests, was handled and examined as a document. Program sections related to the purposeful sampling technique used in the qualitative research design were identified. In this context, the group of the study consists of all 315 episodes of the "Ömür Dediğin" program broadcast as of 20.10.2023 and the sample consists of 45 episodes of the "Ömür Dediğin" program. In analyzing the opinions obtained in the study, thematic and descriptive content analysis was preferred. According to the results of the research, it was evaluated that carrying out continuous care was perceived as a difficult and troublesome process by elderly individuals due to death anxiety, needing someone else, loneliness, death of spouse or children, and chronic illness of close family members (spouse, children). Although it is seen that the coping methods used may differ depending on the problems experienced, religion has been seen to be an important coping source in this process. It has been determined that belief in fate, prayer, social support, belief in the afterlife, gratitude, perception of test, and reading religious boks, patience are the main religious coping activities used. Elderly individuals benefit from religious coping elements as well as different coping methods in the process of coping with the problems they encounter. Accordingly, making an effort to socialize more, getting a job and occupation, transferring feelings and thoughts to written texts, turning to nature, memory and dreams were determined as some prominent coping methods. * This article is extracted from my master thesis entitled “A Research on Elderly Individuals’ Life, Religion and Value Perceptions and Coping Proceses: The Example of Program Ömür Dediğin”, which was completed in 2024 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Behlül Tokur (Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Philosopy and Religious Studies).

A happy place to be in: how beliefs about living places influence depression in Chinese international student returnees

BackgroundThe mental health of Chinese international student returnees is a critical concern impacting their well-being and successful reintegration into home society, especially in the post-COVID-19 era. This study examines how beliefs about changing living conditions, emigration intentions, and belief in fate influence depression levels among these returnees.MethodsA cross-sectional survey collected data from 1,014 returnees through WeChat public groups. Depression levels were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Bayesian analysis with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms was employed for statistical examination.FindingsIt was found that a stronger belief that changing one's living environment can bring happiness is associated with lower depression levels, highlighting the positive role of agency thinking in mental health. This association is moderated by emigration intentions and belief in fate. Specifically, among returnees who believe that changing living conditions enhances happiness, those with stronger intentions to emigrate from China exhibited lower depression levels, while those with a strong belief in fate showed higher depression levels.ImplicationsThese results suggest that both agency and pathway thinking significantly affect the mental health of returnees. To support their well-being and reintegration, we recommend that policymakers create more diverse and inclusive environments within China that accommodate returnees' aspirations. Educational institutions should offer counseling services that bolster returnees' proactive strategies for achieving personal goals. Additionally, mental health interventions should address cultural beliefs, such as fatalism, which might hinder proactive coping mechanisms.

Spiritual Well-being and Fate in the Patience Self-compassion Link Among University Students: A Turkish Perspective.

This study investigates the mediating roles of spiritual well-being and belief in fate in the relationship between patience and self-compassion among university students. The research was conducted with 670 students. Data were collected using the "Patience Scale", "Self-Compassion Scale," "Theistic Fate Perception Scale," and a "Personal Information Form." Analyses were performed using Process Macro Model 4 and Model 8. The findings indicate no significant relationship between self-compassion and spiritual well-being. However, an optimistic prediction was identified between spiritual well-being and patience. Furthermore, the study's findings have significant implications. It was found that spiritual well-being does not serve as a mediating role in the relationship between self-compassion and patience. Instead, belief in fate plays a regulatory role that strengthens the relationship between self-compassion and spiritual well-being. Among individuals with a high belief in fate, the prediction of spiritual well-being by self-compassion becomes more pronounced. Moreover, belief in fate regulates the indirect prediction of patience by self-compassion through spiritual well-being, opening up new avenues for research and practice. A number of limitations regarding this study are also noted.

Leveraging female partner influence in health interventions: a study on prostate cancer screening uptake among men in rural Kiambu County, Kenya

Background: Globally, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men, with considerably high fatality rates. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a female partner-led brochure method on perception, attitude, and cultural beliefs toward the intention of prostate cancer screening among men in rural Kiambu County, Kenya. Methods: The research adopted a randomized controlled trial design. Multistage sampling was employed in this study. The Chi-square test was used to assess differences in perception, attitude, and cultural beliefs towards intention to undergo prostate cancer screening (PCS) between the control and intervention groups at baseline and end line. Further, data were subjected to structural equation modeling to assess the influence of perception, attitude, and cultural beliefs on PCS intention pre-and post-intervention. Results: The results revealed no significant difference in perception between the control and intervention groups at baseline and end-line. Regarding attitude, there was a 39.8% and 24.7% increase in positive attitudes in the group that used gain-framed and loss-framed brochure methods, respectively, at the end line. In the end, there was a significant reduction in the number of respondents who had fatalistic beliefs, whereby 23.1% and 13.2% of the respondents in the groups’ intervention used gain-framed and loss-framed brochures, respectively. Conclusions: The study recommends the implementation of female partner-led interventions using gain-framed messaging in prostate cancer screening campaigns, as this approach demonstrated superior effectiveness in improving attitudes, reducing fatalism beliefs, and increasing the perceived benefits of screening among men.

Exploring disparities in healthcare utilization, cancer care experience, and beliefs about cancer among asian and hispanic cancer survivors.

Significant disparities exist in cancer detection, treatment, and outcomes for racial/ethnic minoritized groups in the US. The objective of this study was to explore racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare utilization, cancer care experiences, and beliefs about cancer in patients diagnosed with cancer among diverse racial/ethnic groups in the US. Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey -Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (HINTS-SEER 2021) were analyzed for 1,108 cancer survivors. Bivariate analysis of the study variables with race/ethnicity were conducted with weighted analysis from STATA version 17.Sampling weights using svy was conducted. Racial/ethnic differences in healthcare utilization remained significant when controlling for the confounding factors. Asians and Hispanics were less likely to have a regular healthcare provider compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHW) (aOR = 3.31, p = .003; aOR = 2.17, p = .014; respectively). Asians were less likely than NHW to have had healthcare provider visits in the past 12months (aOR = 4.89, p = .011). There were no statistically significant differences between racial/ethnic groups in the cancer care experiences. Racial/ethnic differences in fatalistic beliefs about cancer were not significant in the final multivariate model; however, being older (β = -.41, p = .033), and having a higher education level (β = -1.23, p < .001), were associated with lower level of fatalistic beliefs about cancer. The findings suggest tailored approaches to improve healthcare utilization rates among racial/ethnic minoritized groups and highlight the need for increased research and clinical practice efforts to address racial/ethnic disparities in the cancer care continuum.

Beyond Conventional Practices: Exploring Consumer Perceptions Towards Factors Influencing Microinsurance Purchasing Decisions

Microinsurance is emerging as an essential financial instrument within Islamic economics, focusing on principles of social justice, collective welfare, and equitable wealth distribution. This study investigates public perceptions and the factors influencing decisions to purchase microinsurance products among low-income communities in Indonesia. Despite the evolving awareness of insurance, skepticism and limited financial literacy persist, creating barriers to access. In line with Islamic economic principles, microinsurance offers a solution for inclusive financial protection through the application of ta'awun (mutual cooperation) and maslahah (public welfare), enabling the distribution of financial risks among participants without a focus on profit. This study emphasizes the potential of Sharia-based microinsurance in enhancing financial inclusion by providing affordable, accessible insurance products tailored to low-income individuals and micro-enterprises, particularly in sectors such as agriculture. The findings reveal key influencing factors: affordability, trustworthiness, simplicity, and community-driven support. Educating communities on the benefits of Sharia-compliant insurance is crucial for mitigating fatalistic beliefs and promoting a proactive approach to financial resilience. This research contributes to the broader discourse on financial inclusion, advocating microinsurance as a socially responsible and ethically aligned instrument within the Islamic economic framework to enhance financial security for vulnerable populations. Policymakers, too, have a role to play in creating an enabling environment that encourages the development and uptake of microinsurance as a vital tool for enhancing financial resilience among the vulnerable populations of Indonesia.

Avoiding Financial Information: The Roles of Fate and Money Beliefs

ABSTRACTThe current research explores the influence of belief in fate on the avoidance of information about one's current financial situation. Building on research in the areas of consumer behavior and consumer decision‐making, we explore how implicit beliefs about money impact the relationship between an individual's belief in fate and avoidance of information about current financial situation. We find that fatalism positively predicts a greater likelihood of avoiding current financial information (Studies 1a and 1b). We further find evidence that this effect is mediated by two money scripts, defined as implicit beliefs about money, in particular, avoidant and status scripts (Study 2). In other words, situation avoidance occurs because individuals higher in fatalism have a greater belief in either an avoidant or status script, which further heightens their avoidance of information about their financial situation. Next, we introduce perceived control over money as a moderating factor of the relationship between these money beliefs and situation avoidance (Study 3). We find that the impact of money script on avoidance is weakened when individuals have higher perceived control over money, while lower perceived control further strengthens the relationship between money script and situation avoidance. Finally, the key effect is then generalized to various types of financial contexts (Study 4). We conclude with implications of these findings for theory, policy makers, managerial decision‐making, and consumer well‐being.

Exploring the Causes of Low Reporting of Medico-Legal Issues in Ghana: Perspectives of Key Informants in the Health Sector

Objective: The study aimed at exploring factors leading to medico-legal issues and why they are under reported. Methodology: This was a qualitative study in which 16 key informants were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Ethical Review Board. Data was analysed thematically. A written informed consent was obtained from each participant. Results: A medico-legal issue arose if the standard of care was perceived to have been breached or when a complaint was not managed according to the complainant’s expectations. Reasons for low reporting included the long emotionally exacting and expensive adjudication process. Additionally, procedures at the facilities to address complaints are considered non-transparent and prejudicial. Finally, interviewees were credulous believing in predetermined death. They have the attitude of ‘leave judgement to God.’ Even if the victim wants to take the matter up, others may impress upon them to stop it. Conclusion: The study concludes that factors leading to medico-legal issues include a breach in the approved standard of care of the patient and whether the complainant is unhappy with the handling of the matter. The emotionally and financially exacting nature of dealing with these issues, and the perceived unfair processes account for the low reporting. Belief in fatalism is a contributory factor.

Relationship Between Fatalistic Cancer Beliefs and Risky Health Behaviors.

There is limited research on how fatalism influences risky health behaviors that are linked to higher cancer risks. This study investigates the relationship between risky health behaviors (tobacco smoking, electronic cigarette use, and heavy alcohol drinking) and fatalistic cancer beliefs while controlling for health care-related self-efficacy and sociodemographic and clinical factors among adults without a history of cancer. We used cross-sectional data from the 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5 Cycle 4. The study sample included noninstitutionalized adults (aged ≥18 years without a self-reported cancer history (n = 2464). The outcome variable was risky health behaviors comprised of tobacco smoking, electronic cigarette use, and heavy alcohol drinking. We combined these 3 risky behaviors into a binary variable (0, not having risky health behavior; 1, having ≥1 risky health behavior). The key independent variable was cancer fatalistic beliefs. We used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Overall, 50% of the sample were women, 64.7% of participants self-identified as non-Hispanic White, 16.4% as Hispanic, and 10.6% as non-Hispanic Black. About 43% of participants reported having at least one risky health behavior. While holding all other factors constant, each unit increase in cancer fatalism score was associated with 30.0% higher odds of increased risky health behaviors (odds ratio = 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.62, P = .021) among adults without a history of cancer. By understanding the relationship between cancer-related fatalistic beliefs and risky health behaviors, cancer prevention outreach programs can be personalized to suit the unique needs of specific individuals and communities.

Control beliefs as mediators between education and quality of life in patients with breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer: a large register based study

ObjectiveControl beliefs have been found to influence adaption to a cancer diagnosis. This study explored interrelationships among education, control beliefs, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer and tested weather control beliefs act as mediators.MethodsSix hundred and five patients with breast (n = 205), prostate (n = 205), colorectal (n = 124), and lung (n = 71) cancer from two German cancer registries answered standardized questionnaires. Response rate was 54%. HRQoL was assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 core questionnaire and control beliefs (internal, external, and fatalistic) were evaluated using the IPC-questionnaire. Education was measured on a scale ranging from 1 to 8. Data were analyzed using multiple mediation models.ResultsThere was a positive correlation between education and HRQoL. Internal beliefs were positive and external beliefs were negative correlated with HRQoL. Internal control beliefs mediated the relationship between education and global health-related quality of life (.299, CI .122, .531), physical functioning (.272, CI .110, .486), emotional functioning (.325, CI .120, .578), and pain (-.288, CI − .558, − .094). External and fatalistic control beliefs did not act as mediators.ConclusionPatients with low education feel they have less control over their cancer disease and consequently a poorer health-related quality of life.

Examining the Role of Information Behavior in Linking Cancer Risk Perception and Cancer Worry to Cancer Fatalism in China: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Reducing cancer fatalism is essential because of its detrimental impact on cancer-related preventive behaviors. However, little is known about factors influencing individuals' cancer fatalism in China. With a general basis of the extended parallel process model, this study aims to examine how distinct cancer-related mental conditions (risk perception and worry) and different information behaviors (information seeking vs avoidance) become associated with cancer fatalism, with an additional assessment of the moderating effect of information usefulness. Data were drawn from the Health Information National Trends Survey in China, which was conducted in 2017 (N=2358). Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping methods were performed to test a moderated mediation model and hypothesized relationships. The results showed that cancer risk perception and cancer worry were positively associated with online health information seeking. In addition, cancer worry was positively related to cancer information avoidance. Moreover, online health information seeking was found to reduce cancer fatalism, while cancer information avoidance was positively associated with cancer fatalism. The results also indicated that the perceived usefulness of cancer information moderated this dual-mediation pathway. The national survey data indicate that cancer mental conditions should not be treated as homogeneous entities, given their varying functions and effects. Apart from disseminating useful cancer information to encourage individuals to adaptively cope with cancer threats, we advocate for health communication programs to reduce cancer information avoidance to alleviate fatalistic beliefs about cancer prevention.

The Association between Religiosity and HbA1c Level in Patients

Glycemic control poses a challenge in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Religiosity can influence a patient’s coping strategies with the disease. However, the relationship between patient religiosity and glycemic control has not been thoroughly explored. In this systematic review, we assessed the relationship between religiosity and glycemic control in patients with T2DM. Using PubMed and Google Scholar, we included articles published in English from 2011 onwards that quantitatively examined religiosity and its relationship with glycemic control based on the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Four studies from four different countries were included, employing varying measurement tools to assess religiosity. The HbA1c level was significantly related to the Diabetes Fatalism Index (p&lt;0.05) and with general gratitude and gratitude to God, as assessed using the Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness. Religiosity may alleviate stress-related diseases and enhance diabetes care. One study showed a relationship between the HbA1c levels and the Beliefs and Values score amongst Muslims only. Two studies reported a significant correlation between religiosity and HbA1c levels. Reducing fatalistic beliefs and improving gratitude to God could be a viable strategy for helping patients manage T2DM. Further studies are needed to promote such an approach in T2DM management.

Health Fatalism Does Not Predict Body Mass Index but Is Associated with Diet Quality in Healthy Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective Obesity as assessed by body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased risk of chronic disease. Health fatalism, defined as the belief that health outcomes are outside of one’s control, is also associated with chronic disease risk. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to understand the relationship between health fatalism and BMI in healthy adults. Secondary outcomes assessed the relationships between health fatalism and diet quality and health fatalism and physical activity. Method Healthy individuals aged 18 to 65 years were recruited via ResearchMatch, electronic mailing lists, and social media. Participants completed online questionnaires on demographic characteristics, diet quality, physical activity, and degree of health fatalism. Regression models were used to assess the primary and secondary outcomes. For the primary outcome, the model of health fatalism (predictor) and BMI (outcome) was also adjusted for diet quality, physical activity, and demographic characteristics. Results Participants (n = 496) were 38.7 ± 14.3 years old and primarily female (76%) and White (81%), with a BMI of 25.1 ± 5.2 kg/m2. Most participants had a college or post-college education (74%), stated that they always had sufficient income to live comfortably (90%), and were moderately to highly active (91%). There was no relationship between health fatalism and BMI (p > 0.05) or health fatalism and physical activity (p > 0.05); however, there was a significant relationship between health fatalism and diet quality (beta coefficient: −0.046; 95% confidence interval, −0.086 to −0.0058; p = 0.025), such that a higher degree of fatalism predicted a slight decrease in diet quality. Conclusions Although health fatalism did not predict BMI in this population, fatalistic beliefs were associated with poorer diet quality.

The role of collectivism, liberty, COVID fatigue, and fatalism in public support for the zero-COVID policy and relaxing restrictions in China

BackgroundChina was the last country in the world to relax COVID-19 restrictions. A successful public health policy requires public support. This analysis examined the factors associated with Chinese support for zero-COVID and relaxing COVID-19 restrictions in China.MethodTwo online surveys were conducted among Chinese participants in mainland China on June 10–13 (N = 460) and December 2, 2022 (N = 450). These two samples were similar based on the participants’ demographics.ResultsThe results revealed that the perceived health consequences of a COVID-19 policy, perceived norms of approving a COVID-19 policy, and hope positively predicted the participants’ support for the COVID-19 policy. The results further showed that collectivism and fatalism positively predicted support for zero-COVID and negatively predicted support for relaxing restrictions. COVID fatigue was negatively associated with support for zero-COVID and positively associated with support for relaxing restrictions. Liberty positively predicted support for relaxing restrictions in June and negatively predicted zero-COVID in December 2023. It did not positively or negatively predict support for the policy adopted by the government.ConclusionCollectivism, liberty, COVID fatigue, and fatalistic beliefs are important considerations connected to public support for a COVID-19 policy. The role of liberty was more nuanced and depended on the survey’s time and whether the government adopted the policy.

Resilience resources for mental health among people living with HIV: a mixed-method systematic review

ABSTRACT People living with HIV (PLWH) experience a disproportionate burden of mental health problems compared to people living without HIV. This systematic review aims to depict the spectrum of resilience resources that may promote the mental health of PLWH at the individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and policy levels. A systematic literature search was conducted in PsycINFO, Scopus, Medline and advanced Google Scholar. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Of the 591 studies identified, fourteen were included representing a total of 5,142 PLWH from China, Ghana, Nepal, Spain, Tanzania and the USA. Resilience resources were identified at the individual level (self-efficacy, self-esteem, acceptance, hope, optimism, religiosity/spirituality, belief in fate, mindfulness, strength and self-responsibility); interpersonal level (social support and parental monitoring); and community level (attending HIV clinic support groups and access to healthcare). All quantitative studies were cross-sectional, limiting inferences about causation or directionality. Future research should focus on resilience resources at the organisational and policy levels and incorporate longitudinal designs.

Effectiveness of a community-based health education intervention on prostate cancer fatalism: a quasi-experimental study.

prostate cancer is categorized as the most common cancer in males in 2020 in Kenya at 21.9%. The major challenge with prostate cancer in Low and Middle-Income Countries is the presentation of patients with advanced disease. The rate of prostate cancer screening is low across African countries which has been associated with low knowledge and fatalistic beliefs. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of community-based health education on prostate cancer fatalism. the study design was quasi-experimental. The study was conducted in Kiambu County in the Gatundu North and Kiambu sub-counties in Kenya. A total of 288 men were selected per arm of the study using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention. The intervention was health education through home visits by a Community Health Worker. in the study, fatalism was associated with prostate cancer screening (P<0.05). There was a significant decrease in prostate cancer fatalism for the attributes of pessimism, pre-determination, and death inevitability in the intervention arm post-intervention. In contrast, in the control arm, there was no significant decrease. Post-intervention, the proportion of respondents with a high perception of fatalism decreased from 51% to 23.6% (P<0.05) in the intervention arm. In contrast, in the control arm, there was no significant decrease. prostate cancer fatalism significantly influenced prostate cancer screening. Community-based health education significantly reduced pessimism, death inevitability, and pre-destination beliefs about prostate cancer. Tailored culturally relevant health education is an effective strategy to address fatalistic beliefs.

Factors Associated with Cancer Prevention/Risk Reduction Behaviors among Latinos

Improving understanding of behaviors that increase or reduce cancer risk for different Hispanic groups is a public health priority; such knowledge is sparse in new gateway immigration locations such as Indiana. The aims of this study were to: 1) describe cancer beliefs and cancer preventive/risk reduction behaviors (physical activity, tobacco, and alcohol use) among Hispanic adults; 2) examine differences in cancer beliefs and preventive behaviors by country/territory of birth, socioeconomic status, and area of residence (urban vs. rural); and 3) determine predictors of engagement in cancer prevention and risk reduction behaviors in this population. A cross-sectional online survey targeted adult Indiana residents who identified as Latino, Hispanic, or Spanish recruited using Facebook-targeted advertising. Complete survey data from 1520 respondents were analyzed using descriptive, unadjusted, and adjusted models. The majority of respondents believed they were unlikely to get cancer but held many other fatalistic beliefs about cancer. Only 35.6% of respondents had received the HPV vaccine, 37.6% reported they were currently smoking cigarettes, and 64% reported occasional or frequent drinking of alcohol. Respondents spent an average of 3.55 days per week engaged in moderate exercise. Differences were observed by country/territory of birth, income, and education but not by rural residence status. Predictors of cancer risk/risk reduction behaviors were identified. The Hispanic population in Indiana is diverse and effective interventions for cancer prevention should be culturally targeted based on country/territory of birth and individually tailored based on cancer-related beliefs.

Abstract A074: Cancer fatalism among Asian American adults by origin group, 2014-2022

Abstract Background: Cancer fatalism encompasses beliefs about external causes of cancer and the perceived inability of humans to prevent it. Existing research suggests that individuals with higher levels of cancer fatalism are less likely to engage in cancer prevention behaviors or adhere to cancer screening practices. However, limited information exists regarding the prevalence of cancer fatalism within various Asian origin groups. Understanding whether this prevalence varies by origin group can offer valuable insights for developing strategies to enhance beliefs and knowledge about cancer among these populations, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes. To fill this gap in the literature, we conduct a disaggregated analysis of cancer fatalism among Asian origin groups (Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, and other Asian respondents), using nationally representative samples. Methods: We performed a pooled cross-sectional study utilizing the Health Information National Trend Survey data (HINTS-4 cycle 4 [2014], HINTS-5 cycles 1-3 [2017-2019], and HINTS-6 [2022]), a nationally representative survey administered by the National Cancer Institute. We analyzed respondents’ agreement to two items: “It seems like everything causes cancer”; and “There’s not much you can do to lower your chances of getting cancer.” We used a survey-design adjusted Wald chi-square test for bivariate analyses. Results: The sample included 234 Chinese respondents, 173 Filipino respondents, 185 Indian respondents, 97 Vietnamese respondents, and 222 other Asian respondents (e.g., Korean, Japanese). Significantly lower proportions of Indian respondents (38.9%; 95% CI 26.1 – 51.8%) endorsed the statement “It seems like everything causes cancer,” when compared with Vietnamese respondents (70.4%; 95% CI 54.9% – 86.0%) and Filipino respondents (76.2%; 95% CI 65.1% – 87.4%). Additionally, lower proportions of Indian and Chinese respondents endorsed the statement “There’s not much you can do to lower your chances of getting cancer” when compared with Vietnamese and Filipino respondents, though these differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Our study represents one of the first efforts to use nationally representative data to explore disaggregated prevalence of cancer fatalism beliefs among Asian American origin groups. Filipino adults exhibit nearly double the prevalence of one of the cancer fatalism beliefs compared to Indian adults. Vietnamese adults also have a high level of cancer fatalism beliefs. These findings highlight the heterogeneity among Asian American origin groups and emphasize the importance of culturally tailored interventions, specifically targeting those groups with higher levels of fatalism beliefs. Data collection that is disaggregated by Asian origin group should be prioritized to gain a comprehensive understanding of these beliefs and design effective interventions. Citation Format: Milkie Vu, Yenan Zhu, Ryan Suk. Cancer fatalism among Asian American adults by origin group, 2014-2022 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A074.

Associations Between Cancer Risk Perceptions, Self-Efficacy, and Health Behaviors by BMI Category and Race and Ethnicity.

Cancer risk perceptions and high health-related self-efficacy may impact health behaviors and reduce risk of developing obesity-related cancers. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there are differences in associations among cancer risk perceptions, health-related self-efficacy, and health behaviors between people with healthy weight (PwHW) and people with overweight or obesity (PwO/O), and whether these associations vary by race and ethnicity. Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5 Cycles 2 and 3 were used. Data from 6944 adults were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression to assess associations among study variables. PwO/O who believed there are too many cancer prevention recommendations had lower log odds of meeting guidelines for strength training (β - 0.28; CI - 0.53 to - 0.04; p < 0.05) compared to PwHW. PwO/O who believed that obesity influences cancer risk were associated with low sedentary behavior (β 0.29; CI 0.05-0.54; p < 0.05) compared to PwHW. NHB PwO/O who held fatalistic beliefs and reported high self-efficacy ordered less food (e.g., fewer food items, foods with less calories, or smaller food sizes) compared to NHB Pw/HW (p < 0.05). Health behavior differences in PwHW and PwO/O may be associated with differences in cancer risk beliefs and health-related self-efficacy. Findings support the need for further research considering BMI and race and ethnicity in obesity-related cancer prevention and control.