Spiritual coping predicts 5-year health outcomes in adolescents with cystic fibrosis

BackgroundPositive spiritual coping in adolescent patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with better emotional functioning, but its role in health outcomes is unknown.MethodsAdolescents diagnosed with CF (n = 46; M = 14.7 years) reported on their use of positive and negative spiritual coping. Measures of nutrition status (BMIp), pulmonary function (%FEV1), and hospitalizations were obtained for a five-year follow up period. Changes in BMIp and %FEV1 scores were estimated with hierarchical linear models; days hospitalized were modeled with negative binomial regression.ResultsPositive spiritual coping was associated with slower decline in pulmonary function, stable vs. declining nutritional status, and fewer days hospitalized over the five-year period. Negative spiritual coping was associated with higher BMI percentile at baseline, but not with health outcomes over time.ConclusionsThese results suggest that positive spiritual coping plays a key role in maintaining long-term health of adolescent patients with CF.