Relationship of Muslim Religiosity and Death Anxiety with the Mediating Effect of Optimism and Depression Among Cancer Patients in Pakistan

• Published in: Journal of religion and health Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 1418 - 1436
• Main Authors: Abbas, Qasir, Kanwal, Uzma, Saeed, Wizra, Khan, Muhammad Umar, Shahzadi, Mafia, Faran, Muhammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aging; Anxiety; Cancer; Clinical Psychology; Depression; Humans; Islam; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Neoplasms - complications; Optimism; Original Paper; Pakistan; Public Health; Religious Studies; Pakistan; Muslim religiosity; Depression; Cancer patients; Death anxiety; Optimism
• ISSN: 0022-4197; 1573-6571
• DOI: 10.1007/s10943-021-01415-2

Optimism and the practice of any religion are known to reduce depression and anxiety in cancer patients. In the present study, the specific role of Muslim religiosity, optimism, depression, and death anxiety in cancer patients has been explored. The sample of this study consisted of 200 cancer patients from different hospitals of the districts Faisalabad and Lahore (Pakistan). The sample's average age was 26.6 years. Parallel mediation findings show that optimism and depression are significant mediators between Muslim religiosity and death anxiety among cancer patients. Muslim religiosity is positively associated with optimism, and it helps to decrease the level of death anxiety, while depression is negatively associated with Muslim religiosity, and high depression increases the death anxiety level of cancer patients. In conclusion, Muslim religiosity and optimism play significant roles in managing depressive symptoms and death anxiety among cancer patients.