The Impact of Religious Practices on Depression and Anxiety Among Moroccan Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: Many researchers have associated between religiosity with a lower level in depression and anxiety among patients with chronic diseases and especially in cancer patients.The aim of this study is to examine the association between spirituality and depression among Moroccan cancer patients. Another aim resides in to examining the association between spirituality and anxiety among Moroccan cancer patients.Methods: 1054 cases were included. Cancer profile, socio demographic and spiritual characteristics were considered. The data were firstly analyzed using the validated HADS scale arabic version. The statistical significance was tested using Chi-square test. The Odds ratios were also computed for the likelihood of being in depression and/or anxiety.Results: The results obtained revealed that the performance of religious practices such as reading Quran, doing Roquia , and the consideration of cancer as a divine test are factors that significantly decrease the risk of having depression and/or anxiety. However women wearing the “hijab” have three times higher chances of having anxiety compared to other women that do not wear the “hijab”. Patients considering cancer as a divine punishment have significantly higher odds of having anxiety and/or depression. Regarding charity, pilgrimage, visit of “marabouts”, use of medicinal plants and fasting are found to be insignificant predictors of depression and anxiety.Conclusions: The current evidence indicates that religiosity is important to patients facing cancer. Religiosity is not just protective in nature, but it can also be therapeutic. Praying, reading or listening to the Quran, as well as considering cancer as a divine test have been shown to reduce the level of depression and anxiety . In conclusion, the spiritual aspect plays an important role in the quality of life of cancer patients.