ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the qualitative study of twenty-five cancer patients from Istanbul and twenty-nine cancer patients from Malaysia. Upon receiving the patients' consent to participate in the study, the psychologists participating in the study conducted the interviews. The chapter discusses religious coping methods (RCOPE) and secular coping methods used by these psychologists. The most important coping methods used by cancer patients in Turkey and Malaysia were the RCOPE methods, especially Spiritual Connection, Active Religious Surrender, Passive Religious Deferral, and Pleading for Direct Intercession. Five Key Religious Functions constitute the basis of RCOPE; Religious Methods of Coping to Find Meaning, Religious Methods of Coping to Gain Control, Religious Methods of Coping to Achieve Comfort and Closeness to God, Religious Methods of Coping to Achieve Intimacy with Others and Closeness to God, Religious Methods of Coping to Achieve a Life Transformation. The chapter investigates the role of culture in the choice of various meaning-making coping methods.
