The associations of spirituality and Hispanic ethnicity with neuroendocrine biomarkers among patients with colorectal cancer

Objective

Dealing with cancer evokes not only physical and emotional distress, but may also promote resilience through spirituality. Patients with cancer are vulnerable to neuroendocrine dysregulation. This longitudinal observational study examined the degree to which spirituality was associated with neuroendocrine biomarkers and the moderating role of Hispanic ethnicity.

Methods

Participants were adults who were recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer (n = 81, 55 years old, 66% male, 63% Hispanic, 72% advanced cancer, 7 months post-diagnosis). The domains of spirituality (faith, meaning, and peace) and ethnicity (Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic) were self-reported. Cortisol and alpha amylase (sAA) were assayed from saliva samples collected at waking and bedtime on seven consecutive days. Mean levels at waking and bedtime, and diurnal slopes over seven days were calculated. Age and cancer stage were covariates. Results: Overall, patients reported moderate to high levels of spirituality. General linear modeling revealed that greater faith was associated with higher levels of sAA at waking and bedtime as well as more blunted diurnal pattern of sAA only among Hispanic patients (p ≤ .045). Greater peace was associated with steeper diurnal pattern of sAA, regardless of ethnicity (B = 0.021, p = .005). Meaning and cortisol were not significantly associated with study variables.

Conclusions

Findings indicate that presence of peace facing a cancer diagnosis associated with neuroendocrine regulation, whereas drawing on one's faith, particularly among Hispanic patients, associated with neuroendocrine dysregulation during the first months after the diagnosis. Further investigations of psychobiobehavioral moderators and mediators for healthy neuroendocrine functioning among patients with cancer are warranted.