Spiritual Well-Being, Religiosity, Psychological Distress and Quality of Life in Adults with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Romanian Oncology and Palliative Care Centre

Abstract

Simple Summary Cancer patients often face not only physical symptoms but also profound emotional and spiritual challenges. Understanding how spiritual beliefs and practices relate to mental health can help healthcare teams provide better support. This study examined 124 cancer patients in Romania to explore associations between spiritual well-being, religious commitment, anxiety, and depression. We found that patients with higher spiritual well-being experienced lower levels of anxiety and depression, with particularly strong links to reduced depression. Most patients reported that their illness had actually strengthened their spiritual beliefs and practices. These findings suggest that routinely assessing spiritual well-being in cancer care could help identify patients at risk for psychological distress and guide more complete, person-centered interventions that address both emotional and spiritual needs alongside medical treatment.