Religion and Spirituality in African American Family Communication and Support After Cancer Genetic Testing

After an individual undergoes genetic testing for a cancer predisposition syndrome, communication with family about the test results is important for motivating additional testing amongst family members where appropriate and other measures to reduce cancer risk. Given disproportionate rates of cancer mortality and lower rates of testing among African Americans, sharing test results within families is especially important for this population. Religion and spirituality (broadly) and connections between religion, spirituality, and health (specifically) are integral parts of the lived experiences of African Americans; however, few studies have explored the role of religion and spirituality in communication among African American families navigating cancer genetic testing. Drawing from life course theory and Park’s Meaning Making Model, this qualitative study explored this topic using focus groups and interviews among African American adults who had received testing and their relatives. Faith and spirituality shaped how individuals communicated test results, including how they prepared to have conversations about test results, the content of the conversations, and how people processed the outcome of these conversations. Key elements of the broader family context (e.g., norms around sharing cancer information) and faith-based communities also played an important role in meaning making and social support amongst individuals and families.