Religious Social Support and Cancer Prevention and Screening Behaviors in a National Sample of African Americans

African Americans are more likely to develop and die from cancer than any other racial/ethnic group. Previous research supports an association between religious social support and cancer screening and prevention behaviors, as well as with coping with cancer among African Americans. The present study examined the relationship between religious social support and cancer prevention and screening behaviors in a national sample of African American men and women. A telephone interview assessing fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, adherence to cancer screening recommendations, alcohol, and cigarette use was completed with 1,098 women and 531 men. Linear regression models were utilized to determine whether religious social support predicted cancer prevention and screening behaviors above and beyond the effects of general social support. Findings from this study can be used to develop spirituality-based cancer control interventions that seek to capitalize upon religious social support among African Americans.