Religiosity, Emotions and Health: The Role of Trust/Mistrust in God in People Affected by Cancer

Abstract

Trust in God implies the conviction that God looks after a person’s own interests. The first evidence of a relationship between this construct and people’s psychological and emotional health dates back several centuries. However, the literature on this is limited, especially for people with physical health conditions, such as cancer. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the relationships between trust/mistrust in God, social support and emotions in people affected by cancer. The sample consisted of 177 women and men in Spain diagnosed with cancer. The instruments used were the Trust/Mistrust in God Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were performed to compare several explanatory models for the dependent variables: positive and negative emotions. The results show significant relationships between all variables. It was observed that, when trust/mistrust in God is included in the model, only mistrust in God predicts both types of emotions. In addition, both social support and some sociodemographic variables help to predict the dependent variables. This study shows that valuing the religiosity and spirituality of oncology patients in healthcare settings can have a significant positive impact on the health of these individuals. Moreover, it represents an important approach to the study of trust/mistrust in God in the context of a traditionally Catholic country.

The Meaning of Healing to Adult Patients with Advanced Cancer

“…Religiosity, spirituality, and social support have also been associated with a positive impact on the mental health well-being of these patients. For example, a study which examined the role of trust/mistrust in God in people affected by cancer reported that valuing the religiosity and spirituality of patients in health settings positively impacted the health of the patients [ 45 ] Research conducted in terminally ill AIDS patients in Uganda suggests that the existential/spiritual well-being domain was the most important [ 46 ]. Other studies in patients with metastatic disease have also demonstrated that this domain has potential for growth even in the face of advancing disease and declining function [ 47 ], and this may explain the importance of patient’s attachment to it.…”