Religious beliefs, coping, and psychological well-being among Greek cancer patients

Using a prospective design, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between coping and psychological well-being (distress and positive affect) in a sample of Greek cancer patients (N=86), giving a special emphasis on the role of religiosity (religious beliefs and coping). Results showed that religious coping during chemotherapy was the only predictor of positive affect 7months later, when engagement and disengagement strategies were included in the model. The present findings suggest that religious coping may play a positive role in the well-being of patients facing a life-threatening disease, such as cancer.