Document Type : Research Articles
Authors
1
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
2
Student Research Committee, Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan.
3
Counseling and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
4
Gümüşhane University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Psychology, Gümüşhane, Türkiye.
5
Faculty of Surgical Technology Department Paramedical School, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
6
Department of anesthesiology, faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
7
Midwifery Counseling, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
8
School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract
Objective: Cancer patients often experience significant declines in quality of life (QoL), which can elevate suicide risk. In culturally religious societies like Iran, religious coping may serve as a critical buffer against such adverse outcomes. This study examined the relationship between QoL and suicide risk among Iranian cancer patients, with a focus on the mediating role of religious coping. Method: A purposive sample of 350 cancer patients from Tehran was analyzed using validated measures of QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30), suicide risk (Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation), and religious coping (Brief RCOPE-14). Data were analyzed using SPSS v26 and the PROCESS macro v4.0. Results: Bivariate correlations revealed that lower QoL was strongly associated with higher suicide risk (r = -0.62, p < 0.001), while positive religious coping correlated with better QoL (r = 0.48, p < 0.001) and reduced suicide risk (r = -0.41, p < 0.001). Mediation analyses demonstrated that positive religious coping significantly attenuated the QoL–suicide risk relationship (indirect β = -0.09, 95% CI [-0.15, -0.04]), accounting for 17% of the total effect. Negative religious coping, though less prevalent, also mediated this relationship but to a lesser extent (indirect β = -0.03, 95% CI [-0.05, -0.01]). Subgroup analyses indicated that the protective effect of positive religious coping was stronger in advanced-stage patients. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of integrating spiritual care into oncology settings in Iran, leveraging faith-based resources to enhance resilience and reduce suicide risk. Future research should explore longitudinal and culturally tailored interventions to further elucidate the role of religious coping in cancer survivorship.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)