Spirituality in African American and Caucasian Women with End-Stage Renal Disease on Hemodialysis Treatment

Abstract

This reanalysis of data from a previous investigation in the United States was conducted to compare spiritual well-being scores of African American (n = 31) and Caucasian (n = 27) women on hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Women, aged 24 to 79, completed the spiritual well-being (SWB) scale and other instruments. Results indicated a strong trend for African American women to score higher on religious well-being than Caucasian women. Comparisons of SWB item scores indicated areas of spiritual strengths for African American women: perceptions of God's concern for them, God's help with loneliness, fulfilling relationship with God, satisfaction with life, and sense of life's purpose. These findings have multidisciplinary implications for factors that may mitigate the illeffects of ESRD.