Mediated effects of subjective well-being in the association of religiosity and religious belief with quality of life among patients with cancer: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: The present study examined the associations between religiosity, religious beliefs, and quality of life (QoL) and evaluated the potential mediating role of well-being components in these associations among cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Algerian cancer patients recruited from the University Hospital of Sidi Bel Abbes Cancer Center. Participants completed Arabic versions of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief and questions assessing well-being, religiosity, and religious beliefs. Results: Religiosity was significantly associated with religious beliefs, well-being domains, and the physical and psychological QoL domains. Religious beliefs were significantly associated with three well-being domains (happiness, life satisfaction, and mental and physical health) and three QoL domains (physical, psychological, and environmental). All well-being domains were significantly associated with QoL domains, except for life satisfaction and physical health with social QoL. Structural equation modeling showed significant paths from religiosity to well-being (β = 0.38, p<.001), religious beliefs to well-being (β = 0.21, p = 0.013), and well-being to QoL (β = 0.72, p < 0.001). Mediated effects of well-being were significant in the associations of religiosity (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) and religious beliefs (β = 0.15, p = 0.034) with QoL. Conclusion: The findings highlight the pivotal role of well-being in mediating the positive associations between religiosity, religious beliefs, and QoL among Algerian cancer patients. Integrating religious interventions to enhance well-being may optimize QoL. The present study is one of the first to explicitly examine the mediating pathways through which religiosity impacts the QoL among Muslim Arabic-speaking cancer patients, shedding light on potential cultural nuances in how religious beliefs and practices may foster well-being, indirectly enhancing QoL.