The Relationship Between Religious Coping and Psychological Distress in Parents of Children with Cancer

Abstract

This study examined the degree of psychological distress experienced by parents of children with cancer in relation to five religious coping methods: collaborative, active surrender, passive deferral, pleading for direct intercession, and self-directed religious coping. Parents of 166 children with cancer from four hospitals completed the Religious Coping Methods to Gain Control subscale of the Religious/ Spiritual Coping (RCOPE) scale and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). On the average, BSI scores indicated high levels of distress compared with adult norms. Collectively, the five coping methods accounted for 19% of the variance in participants' psychological distress. As predicted, collaborative religious coping was uniquely associated with lower distress. Contrary to hypotheses, pleading for direct intercession was associated with greater reported distress.

Key Words:

• Religious coping
• cancer
• child's chronic illness