The Role of Spirituality in the Relationship Between Religiosity and Depression in Prostate Cancer Patients

Purpose: This study aims to develop a theoretical framework of the relationship among religiosity, spirituality, and depression, potentially explaining the often mixed and inconsistent associations between religiosity and depression.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 367 men (average age of 66 +/- 9 years) with prostate cancer completed measures of religiosity (extrinsic/intrinsic), spirituality (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spiritual Well-Being Scale), quality of life (FACT-G), and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).

Results: There was a small relationship between intrinsic religiosity and depression (r = -0.23, p < 0.05) but a strong association between spirituality and depression (r = -0.58, p < 0.01). Using a mediation model, the meaning/peace subscale of the spirituality measure mediated the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and depression. This model controlled for age, marital status, stage of disease, time since diagnosis, hormone therapy, quality of life, and anxiety.

Conclusions: When examining religiosity and spirituality, the main component that may help reduce depression is a sense of meaning and peace. These results highlight the potential importance of developing a patient's sense of meaning through activities/interventions (not exclusive to religious involvement) to achieve this goal.