A Comparative Survey Study on Meaning-Making Coping among Cancer Patients in Turkey

(1) Background: The role of culture in secular, spiritual, and religious coping methods is important, but needs more attention in research. The aim has been to (1) investigate the meaning-making coping methods among cancer patients in Turkey and (2) whether there were differences in two separate samples (compared to Study 2, Study 1 had a younger age group, was more educated, and grew up in a big city), (3) paying specific attention to gender, age, education, and area of residence. (2) Methods: Quantitative study using a convenience sampling in two time periods, Study 1 (n = 94) and Study 2 (n = 57). (3) Results: In Study 2, there is a significant increase in several religious and spiritual coping strategies. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between being a woman and using more religious or spiritual coping strategies. Secular meaning-making coping strategies also increase significantly in Study 2. The results confirmed the hypotheses for gender, educational, and age differences in seeking support from religious leaders. The results also confirmed the hypotheses for gender and educational level in a punishing God reappraisal and demonic reappraisal. (4) Conclusions: As Turkey is a country at the junction of strong religiosity and deep-rooted secularism, dividing up the meaning-making coping methods into the religious and spiritual, on one hand, and the secular, on the other, reveals interesting results.

Addressing Spiritual and Religious Coping in Psychotherapy An Overview of the Western Studies

Spiritual and religious beliefs and practices contain an enormous therapeutic potential, which is shown by research held in the West. What prevents therapists from addressing this sphere with their clients? What are the barriers, strategies and conditions of integrating spiritual into psychotherapy? The scientific and empirical foundation of research analyzed in current paper gives an example ofan alternative to unproductive discussions on an abstract level in ideological-confrontational style on the evidence based and scientific level. The positive and negative side of such instrumental and behavioristic approach to spirituality is outlined. A task of generating a whole and methodologically funded model of the process of spiritual coping is beingraised.

Religious and Spiritual Coping. An Overview of the Western Studies

The article is aimed at getting familiar with the Western researches of spiritual and religious coping. The main categories, conceptual models and results of the empirical studies in the current research field are overviewed. For the Russian psychological theory this direction of research could serve as an example of a methodologically mature field that could enrich the instruments of studies in the field of psychology of religion and psychology of coping behavior. For the psychological practice it serves as an example of scientifically based look upon the connection between spiritual and religious phenomena and their input in the process of overcoming critical situations. Conclusions are made; future research perspectives and the development of the current field in Russia are discussed.