What factors beyond medication influence the recovery of cancer patients? Clinical psychology doctoral candidate Jessica Tartaro is researching the role of religious and spiritual beliefs in the experience of individuals coping with cancer. Tartaro studies health psychology, a relatively new field that focuses on how physical health interrelates with the psychological domains of thoughts, feelings and beliefs.

Tartaro says a common theme among many of the patients she has met is a sense of being changed by cancer. "What is it about challenge that has the potential to reveal a deeper significance in our living?" Tartaro asks. "This is the basic question that has driven the path of my research."

For her dissertation, Jessica is recruiting cancer survivors from any religious or spiritual background, as well as those who do not consider themselves religious or spiritual. She notes, "I am equally interested in the experiences of those who turn to religion or spirituality as well as those who turn to other sources of strengths in times of need."

As for the design of her study, Tartaro says, "The challenge is to find ways to measure this concept [spiritual or existential beliefs] and compare findings across studies. One way that I am resolving this issue in my study is to use both quantitative and qualitative data - that is, to have participants complete closed-ended survey questions as well as to conduct individual, open-ended interviews to provide a context for survey responses."

Tartaro grew up near Dallas and earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of North Texas. As a Fulbright Scholar, she studied breast cancer survivors in London, then worked at the University of Chicago on a study of African-American cancer patients.

"I was attracted to ASU because it has one of the relatively few clinical psychology doctoral programs with a health emphasis," she says. "I am particularly grateful to have found an exceptionally supportive dissertation committee that has encouraged me to pursue this unconventional topic while challenging me to maintain high empirical standards."

Since arriving at ASU, Jessica has received numerous awards, among them a two-year fellowship from the American Orthopsychiatric Association ("Ortho") as well as the Student Excellence in Service Award from the Society of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association in 2006.

Tartaro is still actively recruiting participants for her study and is looking specifically for individuals who were diagnosed with cancer within the past two years, who completed their treatment three months to a year ago and who are recurrence-free. She can be contacted by email at ASUSpiritualityStudy@gmail.com, or by phone at 480.965.5946.

Read the Arizona Republic's article about Jessica Tartaro's research.