Association between Disease-Related Stigma and Depression among Advanced Stage Cancer Patients: The Moderating Role of Positive Religious Coping

Abstract

This study examines the impact of disease-related stigma (DRS) on depression (DP) among advanced stage /symptomatic Cancer patients in the local context. Mitigating role of positive religious coping (PRC) in the said relationship was also investigated. Considering the adverse impact of disease-related stigma on depression among advanced stage Cancer patients. This study was conducted to find out whether positive religious coping moderates DRS-DP link. Data for this study were collected through cross-sectional surveys from 300 Advanced stage Cancer patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Using purposive convenient sampling technique information on socio-demographic questionnaires and study variables (disease-related disctrimination, depression and positive religious coping) was obtained. Psychometric properties of the questionnaires were ascertained. Evidence for Convergent, discriminant and criterion validity was also obtained. Andrew Hayes’ Process Macro with SPSS was used for hypothesis testing. Results indicated that disease-related discrimination (DRS) was positively related to depression (DP), whereas positive religious coping (PRC) weakens the DRS-DP link. In the light of current findings doctors and Psychologists are required to assess disease-related stigma and depression level among cancer patients undergoing medical treatment. Psychologist need to educate/counsel Cancer patients for using positive religious coping strategy to reduce level of depression.