What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to explore the connections between loneliness, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among Jewish and Arab women coping with metastatic breast cancer.

February 22, 2026

Abstract PS1-02-04: Loneliness among women with metastatic breast cancer and its relation to well-being: the moderating role of religiosity and spirituality

Key Result

Religiosity lessened depression among highly lonely women with metastatic breast cancer, despite loneliness increasing depression, anxiety, and lowering quality of life.

Key Points

The study aims to explore the connections between loneliness, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among Jewish and Arab women coping with metastatic breast cancer.
Mixed-method approach combining quantitative longitudinal analysis and qualitative interviews.
Quantitative analysis involved 100 women using validated scales for loneliness, religiosity, depression, anxiety, and quality of life.
Qualitative interviews provided deeper insights into coping mechanisms related to religiosity and spirituality.
Loneliness significantly correlated with higher depression and anxiety, and lower quality of life.
Cluster analysis identified four distinct groups based on loneliness and religiosity levels, showing significant differences in mental health outcomes.
Qualitative findings revealed belief in God as a crucial resource for alleviating loneliness and depression.

Structured PICO

Does religiosity and spirituality moderate the relationship between loneliness and well-being (depression, anxiety, quality of life) in women with metastatic breast cancer?

Population

100 Jewish and Arab women in Israel with metastatic breast cancer

Intervention

Religiosity and spirituality (assessed as moderating factors)

Comparator

Varying levels of loneliness and religiosity/spirituality

Outcome

Relationships between loneliness, depression, anxiety, and quality of lifepatient reported

Religiosity and spirituality can mitigate depression in women with metastatic breast cancer experiencing high levels of loneliness.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Abstract Objective: This study examined how Jewish and Arab women in Israel, with varying levels of religiosity, cope with metastatic breast cancer, specifically investigating the relationships between loneliness, depression, anxiety, and quality of life, and exploring the moderating roles of religiosity and spirituality. Methods: A mixed-method approach was employed, including a quantitative longitudinal component and a qualitative component consisting of in-depth interviews with a subset of the participants. The quantitative analysis involved 100 women who completed validated scales assessing loneliness (UCLA), religiosity and spirituality (SBI, FACIT-Sp), depression (PROMIS-D-SF), anxiety (PROMIS-A-SF), and quality of life (FACT-B). Results: Loneliness correlated positively with depression (r = 0.63, p .01), anxiety (r = 0.50, p .01), and negatively with quality of life (r = -0.55, p .01). Cluster analysis identified four groups: (1) low loneliness-low religiosity, (2) high loneliness-low religiosity, (3) low loneliness-high religiosity, and (4) high loneliness-high religiosity, demonstrating significant differences in depression (F(3) = 18.96, p .001), anxiety (F(3) = 10.61, p .001), and quality of life (F(3) = 10.81, p .001). Post-hoc analyses indicated lower depression levels in the highly lonely but highly religious group (cluster 4) compared to the highly lonely and less religious group (cluster 2). Qualitative interviews with Arab and ultra-Orthodox Jewish women highlighted belief in God as a critical resource alleviating distress and loneliness. Conclusions: High loneliness increases depression and anxiety and reduces quality of life among women with metastatic breast cancer. Religiosity and spirituality mitigate depression specifically under conditions of high loneliness. These quantitative findings, enriched by qualitative insights, underscore the importance of integrating religious and spiritual resources into psychosocial oncology care, particularly in culturally and religiously diverse populations. Citation Format: M. Braun, G. Goldzweig, I. Hasson-Ohayon, N. Gafni, S. Paluch Shimon. Loneliness among women with metastatic breast cancer and its relation to well-being: the moderating role of religiosity and spirituality abstract. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS1-02-04.

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