The Intersection of Religiosity, Perceived Discrimination, and Psychological Well-Being in a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Sample of Male Cancer Survivors.

IntroductionReligiosity, perceived discrimination, and psychological well-being are interconnected constructs that may influence health outcomes for male cancer survivors. However, limited research has explored these relationships in racially and religiously diverse populations. This study investigates associations between religiosity, perceived discrimination, and psychological well-being among male cancer survivors and whether these relationships differ by race/ethnicity and religiosity.MethodsThis study is a secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from PROSPECT, a multicenter observational study of prostate cancer survivors. The analytic sample included 187 male prostate cancer survivors (74% non-Hispanic Black [NHB], 14% Hispanic, and 11% non-Hispanic White [NHW]) who reported at least one lifetime experience of discrimination. Participants completed a validated survey that measured experiences of perceived discrimination, religiosity, and psychological well-being. Sociodemographic variables, including age, income, and education, were assessed. Descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, and multivariable linear regression models were conducted to explore associations and moderation effects.ResultsNon-Hispanic Black participants reported significantly more discrimination experiences and higher frequency than Hispanic and NHW participants (P < .001). Hispanic and NHB participants reported higher religiosity than NHW participants. Perceived discrimination was not significantly associated with religiosity, anxiety, depression, fatigue, or sleep disturbance. In multivariable analyses, fatigue and sleep disturbance were the strongest predictors of anxiety and depression (P < .001), while higher income was associated with lower religiosity (P < .05). No significant moderation effects were observed. Despite reporting greater discrimination exposure, NHB participants did not experience significantly worse psychological outcomes than NHW participants.ConclusionAmong male survivors of prostate cancer who reported experiences of discrimination, perceived discrimination was not significantly associated with religiosity or psychological well-being. Clinical symptom burden and socioeconomic factors were more strongly associated with anxiety and depression, suggesting survivorship interventions should prioritize symptom management and psychological support while recognizing that religiosity may not be universally protective.