Negative religious coping as a correlate of suicidal ideation in patients with advanced cancer

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between negative religious coping (NRC) and suicidal ideation in patients with advanced cancer, controlling for demographic and disease characteristics and risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation. Methods Adult patients with advanced cancer (life expectancy ≤6 months) were recruited from seven medical centers in the northeastern and southwestern USA (n = 603). Trained raters verbally administered the examined measures to patients upon study entry. Multivariable logistic regression analyses regressed suicidal ideation on NRC controlling for significant demographic, disease, risk, and protective factors. Results Negative religious coping was associated with an increased risk for suicidal ideation (OR, 2.65 [95% CI, 1.22, 5.74], p = 0.01) after controlling for demographic and disease characteristics, mental and physical health, self-efficacy, secular coping, social support, spiritual care received, global religiousness and spirituality, and positive religious coping. Conclusions Negative religious coping is a robust correlate of suicidal ideation. Assessment of NRC in patients with advanced cancer may identify patients experiencing spiritual distress and those at risk for suicidal ideation. Confirmation of these results in future studies would suggest the need for interventions targeting the reduction of NRC to reduce suicidal ideation among advanced cancer patients.

Anxiety and Depression in Cancer Patients: The Association with Religiosity and Religious Coping

“…The growing literature showed mixed results on the association between religious coping and cancer distress (Trevino et al 2014;Rohani et al 2015;Zamanian et al 2015). In a systematic review of 17 studies examining religious/spiritual coping strategies in cancer adjustment, Thuné-Boyle et al (2006) found seven of the studies showed some evidence for the beneficial effect of religious coping, with one study showing religious coping to be detrimental in a subgroup of their population.…”

Assessment and associated factors of suicidal behaviour among cancer patients visiting the oncology outpatient unit in Mekelle oncologic clinics, Tigray, Ethiopia: a cross−sectional study

“…According to a study conducted in Iceland suicidal behaviour was after a cancer diagnosis (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.4-1.9). The risk increase was greatest immediately after diagnosis; during the rst year after diagnosis (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.5) and thereafter diagnosis (AOR = 1.5 95% CI 1.2-1.8) [14].…”

Psychosocial adjustment to cancer and its associated factors in patients undergoing chemotherapy: A cross-sectional study

“…Meanwhile, Ahmadi et al proposed that spiritual closeness to God or a superior power was the most important factor for adjustment to cancer (Ahmadi and Ahmadi, 2015). The results obtained by Trevino et al show that people with negative or religious beliefs are more prone to psychological distress and risk of suicide (Trevino et al, 2014). …”

“…Yet, Zemestani et al reported lower levels of social adjustment in cancer patients compared to healthy people (Zemestani et al, 2013). Previous studies have reported that there are many factors associated with adjustment in cancer patients (Trevino et al, 2014). Charmaine et al (2016) found medication therapy, rest, relaxation, and distraction to be effective for adjustment to physical problems, while social support and religion were important for adjustment to psychological problems (D'Souza et al, 2016).…”