Spiritually based resources in adaptation to long-term prostate cancer survival: perspectives of elderly wives

Spiritually based resources (SBR) generally have a salutary effect on coping with cancer diagnosis and treatment. Few studies address this relationship in long-term cancer survivorship, however. As part of a study on long-term prostate cancer survivorship, wives' ways of coping with cancer-related issues were explored through longitudinal interviews.This article describes findings from a subset of women who reported SBR use (N = 28). Wives completing a quality-of-life survey were purposively sampled by age and race and ethnicity and invited to participate in semistructured interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis and grounded theory. Validity was ensured through researchers' consensus, participants' verification, and key informant interviews. Although wives' spiritual beliefs were rooted in diverse traditions, common themes in SBR use were detected. An embracing spirit was the overarching theme, as characterized by acceptance of change, adversity as opportunity for growth, and proactive coping. SBR facilitated adaptation in four core areas: marriage preservation and couple intimacy, personal growth and continuous learning, health-related attitudes and behaviors, and community connections. A conceptual model of SBR use is proposed, and considerations for research and practice are offered.