Political violence, health, and coping among Palestinian women in the West Bank

Political violence poses a considerable threat to the health of individuals. Protective factors, however, may help people to build resilience in the face of political violence. This study examined the influence of lifetime and past 30-day experiences of political violence on the mental and physical health of adult Palestinian women from the West Bank (N = 122). Two hypotheses were examined: (a) Reports of political violence exposure would be related to reports of poorer physical and mental health and (b) several coping variables (proactive coping; self-reliance; reliance on political, family, and religious support; and political or civic engagement) would function as moderators of the effects of political violence, buffering or weakening its effects on physical and mental health outcomes. Both lifetime and past 30-day measures of political violence were positively correlated with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Proactive coping, reliance on self, and political or civic engagement significantly interacted with political violence to affect health in a counterintuitive direction; those with higher scores on these more internalized and individualistic coping strategies demonstrated worse health as political violence increased. Reliance on religious support, and, in particular, support from and participation in activities of religious institutions, emerged as a significant protective factor. Results underscore the importance of looking not only at whether political violence affects health, but also at how the relationships between political violence and health might occur, including the potential protective influence of resources within people's social environments.

The Influence of Culture, Social, and Religious Support on Well-Being in Breast Cancer Survivorship

Objective

Latina and African American breast cancer survivors (BCS) are affected by health disparities that have negatively impacted their health outcomes and quality of life more than other BCS. Examining the relationships among social support, culture, and well-being in underserved groups may help clarify critical factors that influence health disparities in cancer survivors.

Methodology

Ethnic salience (impact of ethnicity on identity), religious support, social support, and well-being were examined in African American and Latina breast cancer survivors using archival data. Participants included 320 breast cancer survivors (28% African American and 72% Latina) ranging from 26-89 years old and one to five years post breast cancer diagnosis.

Results

Ethnic salience was positively associated with well-being (p < .001). African American breast cancer survivors endorsed greater well-being, social support, religious support, and ethnic salience than Latinas (ps < .05). Religious support was associated with well-being even after controlling for the effects of general social support [ΔR² = .02, p = .005; F(5, 298) = 23.67].

Conclusion

Ethnic salience and religious support are important factors in understanding health disparities and should inform survivorship care plans for underserved populations.

Dermatological Implications of the Taqiyah and Imamah: Recommendations for Delivering Culturally Conscious Care

Background and objective The growing cultural and religious diversity in healthcare settings necessitates clinicians to integrate cultural competence and sensitivity into their practice. Despite significant research focusing on the hijab worn by Muslim women, there is a gap in understanding the dermatological implications of the taqiyah and imamah, worn by Muslim men. In light of this, this study aimed to offer insights into delivering culturally conscious dermatological care for Muslim men wearing these garments, thereby bridging a crucial knowledge gap. Materials and methods The study employed a comprehensive research strategy that encompassed both medical literature and foundational Islamic texts. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were used for medical literature searches, while al-Maktabah al-Shamela and Sunnah.com, along with Quranic and Hadith translations were consulted for religious insights. A thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns, challenges, and unique points, ensuring a holistic understanding of the subject. Results Our findings revealed that wearing a taqiyah or imamah has both beneficial and detrimental dermatological effects, depending on factors such as climate, fabric, and hygiene practices. While the garments are rooted in Islamic tradition, their use varies based on cultural context rather than strict religious guidelines. Moreover, gender dynamics and the concept of privacy ('awrah) within Islamic teachings have implications for healthcare interactions. The study offers practical guidelines for dermatological care tailored to Muslim men wearing a taqiyah or imamah. It emphasizes the importance of material choice, hygiene practices, and the willingness of many Muslim men to be accommodating in medical settings, albeit with some reservations. The paper also discusses the role of telemedicine in culturally sensitive healthcare delivery, recommending measures such as secure communication channels and self-imaging options. Conclusion The paper provides comprehensive recommendations aimed at delivering culturally and religiously sensitive dermatological care to Muslim men wearing a taqiyah or imamah. By integrating both medical best practices and a nuanced understanding of Islamic customs, healthcare providers can foster a more trusting and effective care relationship, thereby improving patient satisfaction and dermatological outcomes.

Roles of Chaplains and Clergy in Spiritual Care for African Americans in Hospice: A Pilot Study

CONTEXT

Spiritual care is recognition of patient and caregiver spiritual/religious needs and attention to those needs. Caregivers of African American hospice patients are more likely to report worse emotional/religious support. Yet, spiritual care delivery and roles of community clergy and chaplains for African American hospice patients are not well understood.

OBJECTIVES

Examine who provides spiritual care to African American hospice patients and caregivers.

METHODS

Partnering with large, urban/suburban community hospice, we interviewed caregivers of deceased African American hospice patients (n = 12), their clergy (n = 3) and chaplains (n = 5). Using a phenomenological qualitative study design, we coded transcripts and deceased patient chart data and conducted thematic analysis to identify themes.

RESULTS

Community clergy and chaplains tend to not interact and provide different aspects of emotional, religious and spiritual support to hospice patients and families. Clergy and chaplains agreed that rapport and openness of the patient were main factors in meeting spiritual care needs. Clergy provided interaction with a trusted person and connection to church, congregational support, religious beliefs/theology, and practices. Chaplains focused on present needs and issues of death and dying.

CONCLUSION

Clergy and chaplains have distinct, complementary roles in providing spiritual care to African American hospice patients and families. Both are needed to provide desired spiritual care for African American hospice patients and their caregivers. Robust spiritual care programs need to ensure chaplains have sufficient time to spend with patients and families and incorporate collaboration, handoffs and integrated processes for clergy and chaplains. Research is needed on effectively including clergy in hospice spiritual care delivery.

Perceived Neighborhood Disorder, Self-Esteem, and the Moderating Role of Religion

A growing body of work links neighborhood conditions -and particularly perceived neighborhood disorder-with diverse aspects of psychosocial functioning, including self-esteem or the global moral self-worth of the individual. Our work augments this literature by investigating the possible roles of (a) organizational religiosity (i.e., religious attendance, religious support), (b) non-organizational religiosity (i.e., prayer and religious coping practices), and (c) the sense of divine control as potential stress in mitigating the deleterious effects of neighborhood disorder on self-esteem. Data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study (NSAHS, 2011-2014) are used to test a series of hypotheses regarding the possible stress-buffering effects of multiple religious domains. Findings from multivariable regression models indicate that: (a) perceived neighborhood disorder is inversely associated with self-esteem; (b) non-organizational religiosity and the sense of divine control each mitigate this pattern; and, interestingly, (c) organizational religiosity does not buffer the association between neighborhood disorder and self-esteem. Several study limitations, as well as a number of promising directions for future research, are identified.