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- Title
Spirituality and religion in patients with HIV/AIDS.
- Authors
Cotton, Sian; Puchalski, Christina M.; Sherman, Susan N.; Mrus, Joseph M.; Peterman, Amy H.; Feinberg, Judith; Pargament, Kenneth I.; Justice, Amy C.; Leonard, Anthony C.; Tsevat, Joel
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Spirituality and religion are often central issues for patients dealing with chronic illness. The purpose of this study is to characterize spirituality/religion in a large and diverse sample of patients with HIV/AIDS by using several measures of spirituality/religion, to examine associations between spirituality/religion and a number of demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables, and to assess changes in levels of spirituality over 12 to 18 months.<bold>Methods: </bold>We interviewed 450 patients from 4 clinical sites. Spirituality/religion was assessed by using 8 measures: the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spirituality-Expanded scale (meaning/peace, faith, and overall spirituality); the Duke Religion Index (organized and nonorganized religious activities, and intrinsic religiosity); and the Brief RCOPE scale (positive and negative religious coping). Covariates included demographics and clinical characteristics, HIV symptoms, health status, social support, self-esteem, optimism, and depressive symptoms.<bold>Results: </bold>The patients' mean (SD) age was 43.3 (8.4) years; 387 (86%) were male; 246 (55%) were minorities; and 358 (80%) indicated a specific religious preference. Ninety-five (23%) participants attended religious services weekly, and 143 (32%) engaged in prayer or meditation at least daily. Three hundred thirty-nine (75%) patients said that their illness had strengthened their faith at least a little, and patients used positive religious coping strategies (e.g., sought God's love and care) more often than negative ones (e.g., wondered whether God has abandoned me; P<.0001). In 8 multivariable models, factors associated with most facets of spirituality/religion included ethnic and racial minority status, greater optimism, less alcohol use, having a religion, greater self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, and lower overall functioning (R2=.16 to .74). Mean levels of spirituality did not change significantly over 12 to 18 months.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Most patients with HIV/AIDS belonged to an organized religion and use their religion to cope with their illness. Patients with greater optimism, greater self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, minorities, and patients who drink less alcohol tend to be both more spiritual and religious. Spirituality levels remain stable over 12 to 18 months.
- Subjects
UNITED States; SPIRITUALITY; RELIGIOUS life; HIV-positive persons; AIDS patients; QUALITY of life; HEALTH status indicators; CONDUCT of life; HIV infections &; psychology; HIV infection epidemiology; ADAPTABILITY (Personality); ALCOHOL drinking; ETHNIC groups; LONGITUDINAL method; MULTIVARIATE analysis; PSYCHOLOGY &; religion; SATISFACTION; SELF-perception; LOGISTIC regression analysis; RESIDENTIAL patterns; SOCIAL support
- Publication
JGIM: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2006, Vol 21, pS5
- ISSN
0884-8734
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00642.x