Islamic Religiosity, Depression and Anxiety among Muslim Cancer Patients

Abstract

Active religious practice is central to Muslim livelihood. Among Muslims, this religious
\nengagement is rarely studied with regards to its association in coping with critical illnesses.
\nThis study investigated the association between Islamic religiosity with depression and anxiety
\nin Muslim cancer patients. Fifty-nine cancer patients recruited from a Malaysian public
\nhospital and a cancer support group completed the Muslim Religiosity and Personality
\nInventory, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory in July and August 2010.
\nIslamic religiosity score, obtained from the sum of subscale scores of Islamic worldview and
\nreligious personality represents a greater understanding and practice of Islam in a
\ncomprehensive manner. Results yielded a significant negative correlation between Islamic
\nreligiosity score with both depression and anxiety. Depression was also found to be negatively
\nassociated with religious personality subscale. Older patients scored significantly higher on
\nboth Islamic worldview and religious personality whereas patients with higher education
\nscored higher on Islamic worldview. Married patients scored significantly higher scores on
\nreligious personality than the single patients. Results provided an insight into the significant
\nrole of religious intervention which has huge potentials to improve the psychological health of
\ncancer patients particularly Muslims in Malaysia. Research implication includes the call for
\nprofessionals to meet the spiritual needs of Muslim cancer patients and incorporating religious
\ncomponents in their treatment, especially in palliative care.