Spirituality and religion are two different concepts that often overlap. Devoting oneself to a specific religion entails adherence to certain beliefs and dogmas, while spirituality is described as awareness of something greater than the individual self (Nelson, 2014). Individuals express their spirituality often through religion and prayer, or through other means of achieving spiritual pursuit and expression. According to Spirituality in Cancer Care (2011), many patients diagnosed with cancer rely on religious or spiritual beliefs and practices as means of coping with their illness. Research indicates that cancer patients who rely on spiritual and religious beliefs to cope with their illness are more likely to use an active coping style in
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More specifically, they have found that attachment to the Divine Being foresees the individual’s spiritual coping, in a way that spiritual coping act as a mediator to the relationship between attachment to God and reality adjustment. A previous research conducted by Puchalski (2012), indicates that patients, family and caregivers generally rely on spirituality and religion as a means of coping in dealing with a life-threatening illness, as well as the desire to express their specific spiritual and religious needs and concerns in order to be acknowledged and addressed by the healthcare team. In a study conducted by Tatsumura et. al, (2003), participants reported using a variety of religious and spiritual resources such as (1) personal faith, (2) attending religious services, and (3) the use of religious materials as means of coping. Such beliefs according to Puchalski (2001), tends to enhance recovery from illness and surgery. For religion and spirituality has long been believed to have an effect on individuals’ emotional well-being (Cummings & Pargament, …show more content…
Researchers emphasize the importance of the relationship with God as an aspect of spirituality that may provide some hope, optimism, and inner strength in adapting to stress. Rahnama et al. (2012) concluded that participants had a sense of strength, hope, peace, and confidence through a relationship with God and religious beliefs. Hence, Grant et al. (2004) have stated that many sought or desired to make sense of life in relation to a nonvisible or sacred world. The meaning of the disease affects the duration and result of the disease (Sibel & Okanli, 2014). Therefore, it is important to assess how the illness is meant by patients. In a study by Hatamipour (2015), some participants believed that life had become more precious than before, and liked to live, and valued life more than before. While others insisted that life had become difficult for them, and they did not enjoy it any longer. Moreover, patients wanted to retain their self-worth and live as normal and as meaningful a life as possible, which contributed to preferences for healthcare personnel and services that conveyed a focus on living, not necessarily as long
More specifically, they have found that attachment to the Divine Being foresees the individual’s spiritual coping, in a way that spiritual coping act as a mediator to the relationship between attachment to God and reality adjustment. A previous research conducted by Puchalski (2012), indicates that patients, family and caregivers generally rely on spirituality and religion as a means of coping in dealing with a life-threatening illness, as well as the desire to express their specific spiritual and religious needs and concerns in order to be acknowledged and addressed by the healthcare team. In a study conducted by Tatsumura et. al, (2003), participants reported using a variety of religious and spiritual resources such as (1) personal faith, (2) attending religious services, and (3) the use of religious materials as means of coping. Such beliefs according to Puchalski (2001), tends to enhance recovery from illness and surgery. For religion and spirituality has long been believed to have an effect on individuals’ emotional well-being (Cummings & Pargament, …show more content…
Researchers emphasize the importance of the relationship with God as an aspect of spirituality that may provide some hope, optimism, and inner strength in adapting to stress. Rahnama et al. (2012) concluded that participants had a sense of strength, hope, peace, and confidence through a relationship with God and religious beliefs. Hence, Grant et al. (2004) have stated that many sought or desired to make sense of life in relation to a nonvisible or sacred world. The meaning of the disease affects the duration and result of the disease (Sibel & Okanli, 2014). Therefore, it is important to assess how the illness is meant by patients. In a study by Hatamipour (2015), some participants believed that life had become more precious than before, and liked to live, and valued life more than before. While others insisted that life had become difficult for them, and they did not enjoy it any longer. Moreover, patients wanted to retain their self-worth and live as normal and as meaningful a life as possible, which contributed to preferences for healthcare personnel and services that conveyed a focus on living, not necessarily as long