Brief Article
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World J Transl Med. Aug 12, 2013; 2(2): 22-26
Published online Aug 12, 2013. doi: 10.5528/wjtm.v2.i2.22
Examining the relationship between physical fitness and spiritual fitness in cancer patients: A pilot study
Karen Y Wonders, Hallie Loy, Brian Holt, Kelsey Bohachek, Robert Wise
Karen Y Wonders, Department of Kinesiology and Health, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, United States
Karen Y Wonders, Hallie Loy, Brian Holt, Kelsey Bohachek, Robert Wise, Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, Dayton, OH 45404, United States
Author contributions: Wonders KY designed the research; Loy H, Holt B, Bohachek K and Wise R performed the research; Wonders K analyzed the data; Wonders K wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Karen Y Wonders, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health, Wright State University, 316 Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH 45435, United States. karen.wonders@wright.edu
Telephone: +1-937-7752637 Fax: +1-937-7754252
Received: April 18, 2013
Revised: June 4, 2013
Accepted: July 17, 2013
Published online: August 12, 2013
Processing time: 124 Days and 20.5 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To examine the relationship between spiritual fitness and overall physical fitness, and their resulting impact on feelings of depression and anxiety in individuals being treated for cancer.

METHODS: Thirty patients completed the McGill Quality of Life questionnaire and the Spiritual Fitness Assessment survey, and were asked to classify themselves as “Religious” or “Non-Religious”. After the questionnaires were completed, each patient underwent a comprehensive fitness assessment, which included assessments for VO2max, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition, as well as height, weight, and resting heart rate and blood pressure. The data collected were averaged and analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test at the 0.05 level of significance.

RESULTS: Of the 30 participants, 17 classified themselves as “religious” (R) and 13 classified themselves as “non-religious” (NR). The R group had a higher body fat percentage and a lower VO2max than the NR group. However, these results were not significant. It was also determined that the R group scored themselves significantly higher than the NR group on the Spiritual Fitness questionnaire, but reported significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety than their non-religious counterparts.

CONCLUSION: Health beliefs did not necessarily back up health practice; specifically, those respondents who classified themselves as “religious” reported that their beliefs positively influenced their health behaviors, yet physiological and psychological data did not support this claim.

Keywords: Cancer; Exercise; Spirituality; Health practice; Health beliefs; Fitness; Anxiety

Core tip: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spiritual fitness and overall physical fitness, and their resulting impact on feelings of depression and anxiety in individuals being treated for cancer. Thirty participants completed a quality of life and a spiritual fitness survey, and performed a comprehensive fitness evaluation. It was determined that health beliefs did not necessarily back up health practice; specifically, those respondents who classified themselves as “religious” reported that their beliefs positively influenced their health behaviors, yet physiological and psychological data did not support this claim.