Belief in divine control, coping, and race/ethnicity among older women with breast cancer

Ann Behav Med. 2012 Aug;44(1):21-32. doi: 10.1007/s12160-012-9358-5.

Abstract

Background: Belief in divine control is often assumed to be fatalistic. However, the assumption has rarely been investigated in racial/ethnic minorities.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the association between belief in divine control and coping and how the association was moderated by ethnicity/acculturation in a multi-ethnic sample of breast cancer patients.

Methods: Latina, African American, and non-Hispanic White older women with newly diagnosed breast cancer (N=257) from a population-based survey completed the scale of Belief in Divine Control and the Brief COPE.

Results: Belief in divine control was positively related to approach coping (i.e., positive reframing, active coping, and planning) in all ethnic groups. Belief in divine control was positively related to acceptance and negatively related to avoidance coping (i.e., denial and behavioral disengagement) among low-acculturated Latinas.

Conclusions: Negative presumptions about fatalistic implications of belief in divine control should be critically reappraised, especially when such skepticism is applied to racial/ethnic minority patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acculturation
  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Culture*
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Religion and Medicine*
  • White People / psychology
  • Women / psychology*