Intrinsic religiousness as a mediator between fatalism and cancer-specific fear: clarifying the role of fear in prostate cancer screening

J Relig Health. 2014 Jun;53(3):760-72. doi: 10.1007/s10943-012-9670-1.

Abstract

Understanding factors that influence screening receptivity may enhance African-American men's receptivity to prostate cancer screening. Men of African descent (N = 481) between the ages of 40 and 70 were recruited. The hypotheses that Fatalism would be related to Intrinsic Religiousness and Fear, Intrinsic Religiousness would act as a mediator between Fatalism and Fear, and Fatalism as well as Prostate Cancer-Specific Fear would be negatively related to past Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing and Screening Intent were supported. This meditational finding suggests that when religious beliefs are a motivating force, the fear-inducing effects of fatalism are reduced.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Health* / ethnology
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Early Detection of Cancer / psychology*
  • Fear / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Los Angeles
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Psychometrics
  • Religion and Medicine*
  • Religion and Psychology*
  • Religion*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Prostate-Specific Antigen