Religiosity After a Diagnosis of Cancer Among Older Adults

Abstract

This analysis examined changes in religiosity using the Duke Religiosity Scale among community-dwelling cancer survivors. Participants age 65+ were interviewed at baseline and four years later. In comparison to persons without a cancer diagnosis (N = 485) and participants with a baseline diagnosis (N = 94), newly diagnosed participants (N = 45) were more likely to decrease church attendance. Although not statistically significant, a larger proportion of recently diagnosed persons increased non-organizational religiosity behaviors and intrinsic religiosity. Baseline religiosity was the strongest predictor of religiosity at 48 months, indicating stability in religiosity over time, even in the context of a cancer diagnosis.

KEYWORDS:

• aging/ageing
• religion
• prayer
• church
• spirituality