Associations Between Religious/Spiritual Coping and Depression Among Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A 12-Month...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Medicine
• Religious Studies

Background:

• Cystic Fibrosis (CF) presents significant challenges, with depression being a major concern for affected adults.
• Patients with chronic illnesses often utilize religious/spiritual resources for coping, but this is understudied in CF.
• Understanding these coping mechanisms is crucial for holistic patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the longitudinal relationship between religious/spiritual coping strategies and depression outcomes in adults with CF.
• To identify specific types of religious/spiritual coping that may buffer against depression in this population.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study design was employed, assessing religious/spiritual coping at baseline using the RCOPE.
• Depression screening outcomes were evaluated 12 months later using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
• Logistic regression analyses controlled for disease severity (FEV1% predicted).

Main Results:

• Higher general religiousness at baseline predicted a lower likelihood of depression caseness at 12 months.
• Greater use of benevolent religious reappraisal and spiritual connection coping were associated with reduced depression.
• Lower spiritual discontent also predicted better depression outcomes over time.

Conclusions:

• Distinct aspects of religious/spiritual coping demonstrate differential associations with subsequent depression in adults with CF.
• These findings highlight the clinical relevance of religious/spiritual coping in managing depression within this specific patient group.
• The study extends previous research to an understudied medical population, addressing a clinically meaningful outcome.