Utilization of religious coping strategies among African American women at increased risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer

Fam Community Health. 2009 Jul-Sep;32(3):218-27. doi: 10.1097/FCH.0b013e3181ab3b53.

Abstract

This observational study evaluated utilization of religious coping strategies among 95 African American women who were at increased risk for having a BRCA1/BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutation. Overall, women reported high levels of collaborative coping; however, women with fewer than 2 affected relatives (beta = -1.97, P = 0.04) and those who had a lower perceived risk of having a BRCA1/2 mutation (beta = -2.72, P = 0.01) reported significantly greater collaborative coping. These results suggest that African American women may be likely to use collaborative strategies to cope with cancer-related stressors. It may be important to discuss utilization of religious coping efforts during genetic counseling with African American women.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Female
  • Genetic Counseling
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Religion*