Perceptions and causal attributions of Israeli women with breast cancer concerning their illness: the effects of ethnicity and religiosity.

The study analyzes the perceptions, causal attributions, and attitudes toward help of a group of 33 Jewish Israeli women with breast cancer. We find two distinct response patterns--that of the 'Western' patients (science-oriented, active) and that of the 'Oriental' ones (fatalistic, passive). Questions regarding the relationship of response patterns, cultural context and coping levels are discussed.