The role of spirituality in improving psychosocial well-being in women with breast cancer: a qualitative study

Abstract Purpose Women with breast cancer face many psychosocial problems. This study aims to determine the spiritual experiences of women diagnosed with breast cancer and the effect of these experiences on their psychosocial well-being. Methods The study was conducted with thematic analysis approach, and the sample consisted of women diagnosed with breast cancer ( n = 15). The findings were obtained through individual semi-structured interviews, guided by the interview form presented in the Supplementary Materials. The thematic approach was employed to analyze data. Results The main themes identified in this study were ‘spiritual empowerment and coping strategies during the breast cancer process’, ‘the impact of spirituality on social bonding and emotional support’, ‘empowerment and identity building through spirituality’, and ‘integration of spirituality into holistic cancer care’. Conclusion Findings of the present study revealed that spirituality contributes to strengthening the emotional and social support mechanisms of patients, helping them develop coping strategies, and improving their psychosocial well-being. Raising the sensitivity of healthcare professionals to spiritual care and integrating it into patient care can help address the psychosocial needs of patients more comprehensively. Furthermore, promoting spiritual counselling services may improve the psychosocial well-being of patients.