In recent years, the literature on the relationship between religion and spirituality (R/S) and the health of cancer patients has been flourishing. Although most studies focus on mental health, many study the physical health of these individuals. In order to summarize the findings of these studies, we reviewed the most recent research on this subject using the PubMed and PsycInfo databases. The objective of this systematic review was to recognize the primary R/S variables studied in research on physical health in cancer contexts. We found that spiritual well-being was the most-researched variable in studies of these characteristics, followed by R/S struggles and other variables such as religious coping; religious commitment or practice; or self-rated R/S. In general, R/S seems to have a positive association with the physical health of cancer patients, although the results are quite heterogeneous, and occasionally there are no relationships or the association is negative. Our results may assist in improving interventions that include spirituality in clinical settings as well as the development of holistic approaches, which may have a positive impact on the quality of life and well-being of cancer patients.

Trust in God implies the conviction that God looks after a person’s own interests. The first evidence of a relationship between this construct and people’s psychological and emotional health dates back several centuries. However, the literature on this is limited, especially for people with physical health conditions, such as cancer. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the relationships between trust/mistrust in God, social support and emotions in people affected by cancer. The sample consisted of 177 women and men in Spain diagnosed with cancer. The instruments used were the Trust/Mistrust in God Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were performed to compare several explanatory models for the dependent variables: positive and negative emotions. The results show significant relationships between all variables. It was observed that, when trust/mistrust in God is included in the model, only mistrust in God predicts both types of emotions. In addition, both social support and some sociodemographic variables help to predict the dependent variables. This study shows that valuing the religiosity and spirituality of oncology patients in healthcare settings can have a significant positive impact on the health of these individuals. Moreover, it represents an important approach to the study of trust/mistrust in God in the context of a traditionally Catholic country.

Trust/Mistrust in God have turned out to be two constructs that have great relevance in the study of the relationship between religion, spirituality, and health. In Spain, there are no instruments adapted to measure trust/mistrust in God, which limits the work of researchers interested in these aspects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the Brief Trust/Mistrust in God Scale (BTMGS) in Spanish. The scale translated into Spanish was applied in a sample of 178 oncologic patients together with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the significant others subscale of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, due to the existing evidence of relationships between the variables evaluated by these measures. Internal consistency, structural validity, convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated. The Spanish adaptation of the BTMGS obtained high internal consistency, both for trust subscale (α = 0.95) and for the mistrust subscale (α = 0.86). Furthermore, the correlations found between the BTMGS and the measures of positive and negative emotions and social add evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. These results suggest that the Spanish version of the BTMGS is a valid and reliable measure to be used in research on religion, spirituality and health in Spanish-speaking contexts.

Background: Religiosity and spirituality (R/S) are associated with health outcomes in cancer patients, yet the psychosocial and behavioral pathways involved remain insufficiently understood, particularly in Spain. This study examines specific R/S elements and pathways that may contribute to perceived physical health in this population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with Spanish cancer patients (N = 351), recruited between October 2022 and April 2023. Participants were adults (18–80 years) with a non-terminal cancer diagnosis. The responses were obtained through a questionnaire that included sociodemographic and health variables, as well as validated scales measuring spirituality, religiosity, R/S struggles, psychological factors (gratitude, compassion, negative emotions), social support, health behaviors, and perceived physical health. Path analyses were performed with model fit evaluated using multiple indices (χ², CFI, TLI, RMSEA, SRMR). Results: The global model did not present a good fit to the data, as did the partial model of religiosity. In contrast, the partial models of spirituality and R/S struggles presented good fit indices and a high explained variance, showing that in both models negative emotions and gratitude act as significant mediating pathways between R/S and perceived physical health. Conclusions: Despite the limitations caused by the low sample size and the apparent misspecification of the religiosity segment, findings from the partial models suggest that decreased negative emotions and increased gratitude promoted by higher levels of spirituality and lower levels of R/S struggles lead to better perceived physical health in cancer patients. These results highlight the need to integrate spirituality into patient care, often overlooked in Spanish healthcare. Recognizing these pathways could contribute to more holistic care approaches that incorporate R/S dimensions, potentially enhancing oncology patients’ quality of life.