ASPO Abstracts
Exploring the Influence of Spirituality on the HRQoL and Loneliness in Hispanic Caregivers of Latinas with Breast Cancer
Category: Culture and Cancer
Conference Year: 2021
Abstract Body:
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between spirituality and loneliness on Health-
related quality of life (HRQoL) in Hispanic Cancer Caregivers in the Support for Latinas with Breast
Cancer & Their Intimate and Family Partners Study, [American Cancer Society (ACS) RSG-12-120-01-
CPPB].
Methods
Family caregivers of Latinas with breast cancer (N=234) provided self-reported spirituality and
loneliness data (assessed by the Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the Social Isolation - Short Form 8a
PROMIS Item Bank v2.0 scale) for this cross-sectional analysis. HRQoL was assessed using the
Global Health Scale PROMIS v.1.0/1.1 scale. Mediation was tested using the Preacher and Hayes'
approach to estimate direct and indirect (through the mediator of loneliness) effects of spirituality on
HRQoL.
Results
Caregivers had a mean age of 50.58 y ± 10.31 y. The majority were married, female relatives to the
survivor, and in self-described ‘moderate health' HRQoL (mean: 12.68 ± 3.13), ‘lower' loneliness
(mean: 13.02 ±6.31), and of ‘higher' spirituality (mean: 54.65 ± 9.42). At a bivariate level there was a
significant association between spirituality and HRQoL such that the people with better spirituality
reported better health. However, in the multivariate mediation model, there was no significant direct
effect from spirituality to HRQoL (b = -.02, p = .73). There was a significant association between
spirituality and loneliness (b= -.18, p= .0002) and between loneliness and HRQoL (b= -.17, p< .0001).
These later two associations combined to form a statistically significant indirect effect of spirituality on
higher HRQoL, via reduced loneliness (b= .03, 95% CI = .01- .05).
Conclusions
Key findings suggest that higher self-reported spirituality is associated with higher HRQoL in Hispanic
caregivers of breast cancer survivors, due in part to reduced loneliness among more spiritual
caregivers. Additional research is needed to more robustly evaluate the impact of spirituality in Hispanic
cancer caregivers and what role loneliness has in potentially influencing HRQoL.
Keywords: Loneliness, Spirituality, Breast cancer