Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Table 2. Detailed Summary of Studies Examining the Relationships Between Religion/Spirituality and the Well-being of
Informal Caregivers
Source
Caregiver
Characteristics
156 cancer caregivers
(96% White, 3%
Black, 22% male),
mean age: 64
Criteria for
Caregiving
Spouses of lung
cancer patients
diagnosed in the
previous five years
Design
(Baider et al.,
1998)
67 cancer caregivers
(100% Jewish, 44%
male), mean age 53
Spouses of recently
diagnosed cancer
patients
(Baumgarten
et al., 1992)
103 dementia
caregivers (63%
spouses, 37%
children, 40% male),
mean age 67
Spouse or child who
had the most
responsibility and
provided the most
care for the patient
1.5 year longitudinal
sample recruited from
an oncology clinic in
Jerusalem
Cross-sectional
sample recruited from
an outpatient geriatric
assessment unit of a
large teaching
hospital in Montreal,
Canada
(Abernethy et
al., 2002)
Cross-sectional
sample recruited from
surgical and oncology
clinics in Rochester,
NY
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Religious Coping
Index
Outcome
Measure
Hamilton
Depression Rating
Scale
Religiosity: not
defined
Brief Symptom
Inventory (BSI)
“Ethnicity”: Jewish
(85%) vs. Other
1. Center for
Epidemiologic
Studies
Depression Scale
(CES-D)
2.Aday &
Anderson
checklist of
physical
symptoms
Salient Findings
Low and high levels of
religious coping were
associated with more
depression. Moderate
levels of religious
coping was inversely
associated with
depression
Religiosity was
associated with more
distress in wives only.
“Ethnicity” was not
associated with
depression or physical
symptoms
1
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
Caregiver Characteristics
(Baumgarten
et al., 1994)
86 dementia caregivers
(65% spouses, 35%
children, 40% male), mean
age 67
(Brody et al.,
1992)
492 caregiving daughters
of community dwelling
elderly (84% White, 48%
married, 11% remarried,
18% separated/divorced,
11% widowed, 12% never
married), mean age 51
Criteria for
Caregiving
Spouse or child
who had the most
responsibility and
provided the most
care for the
patient
Main provider of
help with
shopping,
transportation, or
emotional support
Design
1 year
longitudinal
sample recruited
from an
outpatient
geriatric
assessment unit of
a large teaching
hospital in
Montreal, Canada
Cross-sectional
analysis from a
longitudinal study
of individuals
recruited from the
community
Religion/spirituality
Measure
“Ethnicity”: Jewish
(83%) vs. Other
Outcome
Measure
1. CES-D
2. Aday &
Anderson
checklist of
physical
symptoms
Salient Findings
Denomination: 40%
Protestant, 37%
Catholic, 20% Jewish,
3% Other
1. CES-D
2. Mastery
subscale of
Pearlin and
Schooler’s
coping
instrument
3. Bradburn
Affect Balance
Scale
4. Self rated
health
5.Satisfaction
with family and
friends
6. Quality of
relationship
with care
recipient. : .86
7. Caregiving
burden, mastery
and satisfaction
Religious denomination
did not explain differences
in outcomes between the
married, remarried,
separated/divorced,
widowed, or never
married daughters
“Ethnicity” was not
associated with depression
or physical symptoms
2
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Burgener,
1994)
Caregiver
Characteristics
84 dementia
caregivers (98%
White, 44% male),
mean age 71
Criteria for Caregiving
Design
Primary (living with or
providing primary care to an
institutionalized patient) or
secondary (providing
assistance to the primary
caregiver or support to the
institutionalized patient)
caregivers of persons with
dementia.
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from the
Alzheimer’s
Association and
the local office of
aging in northern
New York
Religion/spirituality
Measure
1. Church/Synagogue
Attendance
2. Organized
participation
3. Needs for church
contact met
4. Spiritual needs
meet
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
1. Well-being:
Life-3
2. Role function,
health perception,
mental health and
limitations in
social activities
subscales of the
Medical Outcomes
Study (MOS) SF20
3. Personal
distress, domestic
upset and negative
feelings toward
care recipient:
Relative’s stress
scale
Church/Synagogue
attendance was
associated with more
domestic upset and
better social functioning
Having spiritual needs
met was associated with
less domestic upset and
better well-being and
mental health
Other relationships were
not statistically
significant
3
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Burgener,
1999)
(Chang et
al., 1998)
Caregiver
Characteristics
271 dementia
caregivers (93% White,
5% Black, 63%
spouses, 33% children,
23% male), mean age
66
127 caregivers of
functionally disabled
community dwelling
adults (99% White,
55% children, 17%
spouses, 31% male),
mean age 62
Criteria for
Caregiving
Person
providing the
majority of
patient care
Not defined
Design
Cross-sectional sample
recruited through
advertisements,
Alzheimer’s
Association
newsletters and
support groups in
Indiana and Illinois
Cross-sectional
representative sample
of community residing
elders in eastern
Massachusetts
Religion/spirituality
Measure
1. A religiosity scale
measuring public
religiousness and private
religious behavior. : .77
for private and .87 for
public
2. Whether spiritual needs
were met
3. Satisfaction with clergy
4. Whether needs for
church contact were met
5. Religious well-being: a
subscale of the Spiritual
Well-being Scale
Items 2-4 were adapted
from the Social Integration
of the Aged in Churches
scale
One item from the Meaning
in Caregiving Scale. “My
religious or spiritual beliefs
have helped me handle this
whole experience.”
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
1. Well-being: Life3
2. Role function,
health perception,
mental health and
limitations in social
activities subscales
of the Medical
Outcomes Study
(MOS) SF-20
3. Personal distress,
domestic upset and
negative feelings
toward care
recipient: Relative’s
stress scale
Religious well-being
was associated with
better well-being,
health perception and
mental health.
1. Relationship
quality: 5-items
from the positive
affect measure of the
Longitudinal Study
of Three-Generation
Families
2. CES-D
3. Role submersion:
role captivity and
loss of self
Religious/Spiritual
coping was associated
with better relationship
quality.
Private religious
behavior was
associated with more
positive health
perceptions
Other relationships
were not statistically
significant
Relationship quality
was inversely
associated with
depression and role
submersion
4
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
Caregiver
Characteristics
28 female caregivers
of terminally ill
patients (82% White,
79% spouses, 11%
children), mean age
63
Criteria for
Caregiving
Primary caregiver
Design
Religion/spirituality Measure
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from a Veteran’s
Affairs hospital in
Augusta, GA
Religious Denomination: 79%
Protestant, 4% Catholic, 14%
Other, 4% no preference
(Clipp &
George,
1990)
376 dementia
caregivers (97%
White, 30% male),
mean age 59
Person who
provided some
level of care to a
memory impaired
patient
1 year longitudinal
sample recruited
from the Duke
University Family
Support Program
Church attendance: 4 point scale
(Coen et
al., 2002)
72 dementia
caregivers (50%
spouses, 39%
children, 29% male),
mean age 58
Person principally
responsible for
providing or
coordinating the
resources required
by the patient
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from a memory
clinic in Dublin,
Ireland
(Cohen et
al., 1994)
58 dementia
caregivers (96%
White, 36% male),
mean age 69
Spouses
Cross-sectional
analysis from a
longitudinal study
recruited from an
aging and
dementia center in
New York
Respondents were asking during
semi-structured interviews to
nominate 5 aspects of life they
considered the most important
determinants of quality of life.
21% of caregivers named
religion
Church/Synagogue attendance:
weekly/biweekly, monthly, or
less than monthly
(Cheng et
al., 1994)
Outcome
Measure
1. Beck
Depression
Inventory (BDI)
2. Life
Satisfaction
Index
3. Burden
Interview
4. Provision of
Social Relations
Scale
Social support:
instrumental
support and
perceived
adequacy of
support. : .88
Burden
Interview
Salient Findings
Hopkins
symptom
checklist (SCI90)
Church/Synagogue
attendance was
associated with more
psychological distress
Religious denomination
was not associated with
caregiver depression, life
satisfaction, burden, or
social support
Church attendance was
not associated with social
support
Religion was not
associated with burden
5
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Dyck et
al., 1999)
Caregiver
Characteristics
70 caregivers of
schizophrenia patients
(77% parents, 40%
lived with patients,
17% male), mean age
52
Criteria for
Caregiving
Primary family
caregiver
Design
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from a
community
mental health
center in
Spokane,
Washington
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Religious Coping e.g. “prayed
about it”
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
1. Health review: a
checklist of
specific illness
symptoms
2. The family
burden interview
schedule
Religious coping was
associated with
improved physical
health. This
relationship
disappeared in
regression analysis.
(Fakhoury
et al.,
1996a)
1858 cancer
caregivers (47%
spouses), age: 41%
<55 yr,
24% 55-64 yrs
22% 65-74 yrs
13% >75 yrs
Relatives, close
friend, or
neighbor of
deceased cancer
patients
Cross-sectional,
study sample
from the
Regional Study
of Care for the
Dying (RSCD).
1. Religious affiliation:
Christian vs. nonChristian
2. Strength of religious faith:
strong, some, or none
Satisfaction with the
care the patient
received by nurses,
general practitioners,
and hospital
physicians in the
year prior to death
(Fakhoury
et al.,
1996b)
1858 cancer
caregivers (47%
spouses), age: 41%
<55 yr,
24% 55-64 yrs
22% 65-74 yrs
13% >75 yrs
215 dementia
caregivers (64%
White, 36% Black,
36% male), mean age
72
Relatives, close
friend, or
neighbor of
deceased cancer
patients
Cross-sectional,
study sample
from the
Regional Study
of Care for the
Dying (RSCD).
1. Religious affiliation:
Roman Catholic vs. other
2. Strength of religious faith:
strong, some, or none
Satisfaction with the
care the patient
received from health
and social services
in the year prior to
death
English speaking
spouses who
coreside with a
dementia patient
who is older than
60 years of age
Cross-sectional
sample
The 5-item ultimate meaning
(identification with a spiritual
or religious belief system)
subscale of the Finding
Meaning through Caregiving
Scale. : .91
1. CES-D
2. Global Role
Strain Scale
(Farran et
al., 1997)
Religious coping was
not associated with
burden.
Strength of religious
faith was associated
with higher satisfaction
with general
practitioners only.
Religious faith and
affiliation were
otherwise not
associated with
satisfaction.
Strength of religious
faith was associated
with higher
satisfaction. Religious
affiliation was not
associated with
satisfaction
Ultimate meaning was
not associated with
depression or role
strain.
6
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Flaskerud
& Tabora,
1998)
Caregiver
Characteristics
36 female HIV/AIDS
caregivers (50%
Latina, 28% White,
22% Black), mean age
46
(Flaskerud
et al.,
2000)
117 female caregivers
(36 AIDS, 40
dementia, 41 cancer,
61% White, 39%
minority), mean age 56
(Flaskerud
& Lee,
2001)
76 female caregivers
(36 HIV/AIDS, 40
dementia, 51% White,
22% Black, 26%
Latina), mean age 59
244 male partners of
AIDS patients (89%
White, 5% Hispanic,
3% Black, 34% of
caregivers were
HIV+), mean age 38.
(Folkman
et al.,
1994)
Criteria for
Caregiving
Low-income
women who
were providing
informal home
care to adults
with HIV/AIDS
Not defined
Design
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Religious denomination:
56% Catholic, 28%
Protestant, 16% no
affiliation
Outcome
Measure
1. CES-D
2. Global
Health
Assessment
Salient Findings
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from outpatient
HIV, dementia and
oncology clinics in
southern California
Religious denomination:
73% Christian, 9%
Jewish, 18% none/other
Religious denomination
was not associated with
depression, anxiety, or
sleep quality.
Not defined
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from outpatient
HIV and dementia clinics
in southern California
Religious denomination:
36% Catholic, 38%
Protestant, 8% Jewish,
11% Other, 7% none
1. CES-D
2. Symptom
Checklist 90Revised
(SCL-90-R)
3. Pittsburgh
Sleep Quality
Index (PSQI)
1. CES-D
2. Global
Health
Assessment
Partner living
with an AIDS
patient needing
assistance with
more than 2
activities of daily
living
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from San
Francisco via media
outlets,
clinics/organizations and
directed mailings
Religious/spiritual beliefs
and activities: : .88
Caregiver
Dislocations
Scale
Religious/spiritual
beliefs and activities
were associated with
less burden in HIV
positive caregivers only
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from HIV clinics
in southern California
Religious denomination
was not associated with
depression or physical
health.
Religious denomination
was not associated with
depression or physical
health.
7
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Folkman,
1997)
Caregiver
Characteristics
253 male partners of
AIDS patients
Criteria for
Caregiving
Partner living
with an AIDS
patient needing
assistance with
more than 2
activities of
daily living
Design
8 week longitudinal
sample recruited from
San Francisco via media
outlets,
clinics/organizations and
directed mailings
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Religious/spiritual
beliefs and activities: :
.88
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
1. Bradburn Affect
Balance Scale
2. 10 item positive
reappraisal subscale
of the Ways of
Coping Scale
Religious/spiritual
beliefs and activities
were associated with
more positive
reappraisal, which in
turn was associated with
more positive affect.
Religious/spiritual
beliefs had no direct
relationship with affect.
(George &
Gwyther,
1986)
(Germino
et al.,
1998)
510 dementia
caregivers (97%
White, 54% spouses,
32% children, 88%
married, 29% male),
mean age 57
201 wives (66%
White, 34% Black),
mean age 60
Family member
who provided
some level of
care to a
memory
impaired patient
Wives of
prostate cancer
patients
Cross sectional sample
recruited from a statewide
technical assistance
program for informal
caregivers of Alzheimer’s
patients
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from a tertiary
care urology clinic or
private practices in North
Carolina
Church attendance: 4
point scale
Frequency and
quality of
social/recreational
activity. : .79
Church attendance was
associated with less
perceived need for social
support.
God subscale
(importance of God in
one’s life) of the Health
Locus of Control Scale
Mishel Uncertainty
in Illness Scale
(MUID)
Importance of God was
associated with more
uncertainty in White
caregivers only
8
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Haley et al.,
1987)
(Haley et al.,
2003)
(Hinrichsen
& Ramirez,
1992)
(Kammer,
1994)
Caregiver
Characteristics
54 dementia caregivers
(87% White, 13%
Black, 28% spouses,
55% children, 74%
married, 20% male),
mean age 56.1
80 spousal caregivers
of hospice patients
with dementia or lung
cancer (84% White,
21% male)
152 dementia
caregivers (78% White,
22% Black, 36%
spouses, 58% children,
29% male), mean age
61 for Whites and 53
for Blacks
89 caregivers of
nursing home patients
(5% spouses, 72%
children, 35% male),
mean age 58
Criteria for
Caregiving
Person with at least
weekly responsibility
for assisting a relative
over age 60 with
significant functional
impairment who
resided in the
community
Primary caregiver
Design
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from a
nonprofit hospice in
Tampa, Florida
Religious affiliation
Not defined.
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from New York
area social service
programs and medical,
neurology and dementia
clinics. The sample was
representative of the
larger U.S. caregiving
population
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from two
nursing homes in a large
Eastern U.S.
metropolitan center
Religious denomination:
46% Catholic, 32%
Jewish, 12% Protestant,
10% other/none
Family member
having responsibility
for a patient newly
admitted to a nursing
home
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from media
outlets, referrals and
service agencies
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Church attendance:
Number of times
attended church in the
past month
Religion: Jewish vs. nonJewish
Outcome
Measure
1. BDI
2. Life
Satisfaction
Index
3. Self rated
health
problems: 4
point scale
1. CES-D
2. Life
satisfaction
index-Z (LSIZ)
1. Symptom
Checklist
2. Zarit Burden
Interview
Salient Findings
1. 8 subscales
of the Ways of
Coping Scale
2. Emotion
Appraisal of
Nursing Home
Placement Tool
(EANH) :
.68-.83
Jewish caregivers
were less likely to
use distancing,
self-controlling and
positive
reappraisal.
Church attendance
was associated
with less
depression, lower
self rated health
and greater life
satisfaction
Religious
affiliation was not
associated with
depression or life
satisfaction
Religious
denomination was
not associated with
psychiatric
symptoms or
burden
Religion was not
associated with
stress appraisal
9
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Karlin,
2004)
(Kaufman et
al., 1990)
(Kirschling
& Pittman,
1989)
Caregiver
Characteristics
31 dementia caregivers
(32% spouses, 65%
children)
Criteria for
Caregiving
Not defined
57 parents of adults with
mental retardation (65%
White, 35% Black,
100% parents, 11%
male), mean age 62
Self identified
primary caregiver
providing in home
care to an adult
child with mental
retardation
70 caregivers of hospice
patients (69% spouses,
26% children, 29%
male), mean age 62
Person caring for a
terminally ill
relative receiving
home hospice
services
Design
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from the
Alzheimer’s associations of
Colorado and western
Nebraska, adult day-care
centers, and from regional
physicians or physician
assistants.
Cross-sectional sample
recruited form service
agencies in Alabama
Cross-sectional sample
referred from 5 hospice
programs in 2 Northwestern
states
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Organized and
nonorganized religion.
Outcome
Measure
Zarit
Burden
Scale
(ZBS)
Salient Findings
Frequency of church
attendance
1. Burden:
Cost of
Care Index
2. Stress
Church attendance
was not associated
with burden
Religious well-being,
existential well-being and
spiritual well-being
Bradburn
Affect
Balance
Scale
Participation in
organized and
nonorganized
religion was
associated with less
burden
Church attendance
was associated with
less stress
Spiritual, religious
and existential wellbeing were not
associated with
positive affect
Existential wellbeing was
associated with less
negative affect
10
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Kristjanson,
1989)
(Kristjanson
et al., 1997)
Caregiver
Characteristics
210 caregivers of cancer
patients (39% French,
28% British Isler, 20%
Other European, 13%
Other, 29% spouse, 46%
children), age: 22% <30,
41% 31-50, 37% >50
Criteria for
Caregiving
Family member
involved in or
affected by
patient’s illness
Design
72 cancer caregivers
(57% European/British,
18% French, 25% Other,
58% spouses, 33% male),
age: 29% <50 yrs
33% 51-65 yrs
38% >65 yrs
Family member
identified by the
patient as the
individual most
involved in the
patient’s illness
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from inpatient
medical units,
palliative care
units and home
care programs in
3 Canadian
provinces
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from an inpatient
palliative care
ward, outpatient
oncology clinic
and outpatient
home care
program in a
tertiary hospital
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Religiosity: 41%
Protestant, 37%
Catholic, 16% other,
1% none
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
Important
healthcare provider
behaviors. 74 items
were important to
patient care and 77
items were
important to family
care.
Religious
denomination: 33%
Catholic, 51%
Protestant, 15% Other
1. Family members
care satisfaction
scale (FAMCARE)
2. Family members
care expectations
(F-Care
Expectation) Scale
3. Family members
care perceptions (FCare Perceptions)
1. Catholics were more
likely to perceive that:
“Spiritual support is
available in hospital”
2. Those with religious
affiliation were more
likely to perceive as
important 3 patient care
behaviors: “Doctor is
available to the patient”,
“The patient knows it is
ok to call for help at any
time” and “There is no
delay in making the
diagnosis.”
Religious denomination
was not associated with
care satisfaction,
expectations, or
perceptions.
11
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Kulik,
2001)
(Leblanc
et al.,
2004)
Caregiver
Characteristics
259 wives of
community dwelling
elderly, mean age 59
Criteria for
Caregiving
Spouse
Design
200 dementia
caregivers (89%
Caucasian, 100%
spouses, 28% male),
mean age 73
Spouses who
were the primary
caregiver and
cohabitated with
the patient
Cross-sectional sample
recruited via media
advertising, outreach,
community based providers,
churches, and a university
hospital
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from retreats,
workshops and pensioners
clubs. The sample was
representative of the larger
caregiving population in
Israel
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Religiosity: orthodox,
traditional, secular
1. Self-perceived
religiosity
2. Frequency of
attendance at religious
services
3. Frequency of prayer
4. Denomination:
Protestant vs. other
Outcome
Measure
Satisfaction with
Caregiving:
1. Commitment
to caregiving
2. Perceived
harmful effects
of caregiving
3. Delegating
responsibility for
care
: .65-.81
1. Hopkins
symptoms
checklist
measure of
depression
2. 5 measures of
stress.
: .77-.92
Salient Findings
Religiosity was not
associated with
satisfaction with
caregiving
Religiosity was
associated with greater
depression in
caregivers with worse
physical health.
Religiosity was largely
unrelated to stress.
However, feelings of
role overload were
associated with greater
self-perceived
religiosity.
Other measures of
religion were not
associated with
depression or stress.
12
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Lee et al.,
1997)
(Litwin &
Abramowitz,
1993)
(Litwin,
1994)
Caregiver
Characteristics
54 dementia caregivers
(15% spouses, 35%
children, 89% married)
20% male), mean age
53
120 caregivers of
hospitalized patients
(87% children, 33%
male, 78% married),
age: 26% under 40,
68% 40-59, 6% older
than 60
120 caregivers of
hospitalized patients
(87% children, 33%
male, 78% married),
age: 26% under 40,
68% 40-59, 6% older
than 60
Criteria for
Caregiving
Family member with
primary responsibility
for care and
supervision of the
patient for at least 2
months during the
patient’s progressive
decline in mental
health
Design
Filial relative who
visited the patient in
the hospital and was
identified themselves
as the primary
caregiver
Cross-sectional
sample
recruited from
2 hospitals in
Jerusalem,
Israel
Degree of orthodoxy of
the caregiver (secular to
ultra orthodox): Bar-Lev
Appraisal of Religious
Affiliation
Informal support
behavior provided
by the caregiver
Filial relative who
visited the patient in
the hospital and was
identified themselves
as the primary
caregiver
Cross-sectional
sample
recruited from
2 hospitals in
Jerusalem,
Israel
Degree of orthodoxy of
the caregiver (secular to
ultra orthodox): Bar-Lev
Appraisal of Religious
Affiliation
1. Scale of Filial
Responsibility
Expectations
2. Current support
provided by the
caregiver and
future support
perceived to be
available to the
caregiver
Cross-sectional
sample
recruited from
a nursing home
and public
health center in
South Korea
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Practicing religion: Not
specified
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
Perceived
Difficulties and
Satisfaction
Checklist
Practicing religion
was positively
associated with
satisfaction in
caregivers caring for
their relative at home
Practicing religion
was not associated
with satisfaction in
caregivers who had
admitted their relative
to a nursing home
Orthodoxy was
associated with more
support behaviors
Orthodoxy was
associated with more
feelings of filial
responsibility. Filial
responsibility was, in
turn, associated with
more current and
future support
13
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
Caregiver
Characteristics
194 caregivers of
community dwelling
elderly (34% spouses,
54% children), mean
age 66
Criteria for
Caregiving
Person who most
helps with six
personal care
activities
(Magliano,
Fadden,
Madianos et
al., 1998)
236 caregivers of
schizophrenia patients
(75% parents, 16%
spouses, 25% male),
mean age 55
236 caregivers of
schizophrenia patients
(75% parents, 16%
spouses, 25% male),
mean age 55
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from community
health centers in
Italy, England,
Germany, Greece
and Portugal
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from community
health centers in
Italy, England,
Germany, Greece
and Portugal
Search for Spiritual Help
subscale of the Family
Coping Questionnaire
(Magliano,
Fadden,
Economou et
al., 1998)
Relative spending
the highest
number of hours
in contact with
the patient in
during the last
year
Relative spending
the highest
number of hours
in contact with
the patient in
during the last
year
(Magliano et
al., 1999)
45 caregivers of
schizophrenia patients
(78% parents, 15%
spouses, 28% male),
mean age 53
Relative spending
the highest
number of hours
in contact with
the patient in
during the last
year
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from psychiatric
units in Naples,
Italy and
Aylesbury, United
Kingdom
(Llacer et al.,
2002)
Design
Cross-sectional
sample recruited as
part to the Aging
in Leganes Study.
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Self reported religiosity:
very, somewhat, or not
at all
Outcome
Measure
1. CES-D
2. Life
satisfaction: 5
point scale
3. Aday &
Anderson
checklist of
physical
symptoms
4. Self perceived
physical health:
5 point scale
Family Problem
Questionnaire
Salient Findings
Search for Spiritual Help
subscale of the Family
Coping Questionnaire
1. Social
Network
Questionnaire
2. Disability
Assessment
Questionnaire
Search for Spiritual Help
subscale of the Family
Coping Questionnaire
Family Problem
Questionnaire
The search for spiritual help
was not associated with
practical, emotional, or
professional support received
by the caregiver and was not
associated with
understanding by friends or
with attitudes towards the
patient
The search for spiritual help
was not associated with
subjective or objective
burden
Self reported religiosity was
associated with less
depression in spouses only.
Religiosity was not
associated with life
satisfaction or physical
health
The search for spiritual help
was associated with more
subjective burden and was
not associated with objective
burden
14
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Magliano et
al., 2000)
(Mausbach
et al., 2003)
(McDermott
et al., 1997)
Caregiver
Characteristics
159 caregivers of
schizophrenia patients
(93% parents, 15%
spouses, 28% male), mean
age 57
Criteria for
Caregiving
Relative spending
the highest number
of hours in contact
with the patient in
during the last year
147 Caucasian and 110
Latina dementia
caregivers (52% of
Caucasians and 22% of
Latinas were spouses,
100% female), mean age
61 in Caucasians and 52
in Latinas
95 parents of adults with
mental retardation (65%
married, 70% White, 30%
Black, 22% male), mean
age 61
Adult in caregiving
role for at least 6
months who lived
with and provided
at least 4 hours of
care to a family
member
Parents of
individuals older
than 21, with IQ
<70, who have
difficulty in 2
adaptive skill areas
and who were
diagnosed prior to
age 21
Design
1 year longitudinal
sample recruited
from community
health centers in
Italy, England,
Germany, Greece
and Portugal
Cross-sectional
analysis from an
18 month
longitudinal
sample recruited
from the San
Francisco Bay area
Cross-sectional
random sample of
disability service
agencies that serve
individuals with
mental retardation
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Search for Spiritual
Help subscale of the
Family Coping
Questionnaire
Outcome
Measure
Family Problem
Questionnaire
Salient Findings
Short form of the Brief
Religious Coping Scale
(BRCOPE)
1. Overall
physical health
assessed with
one question
2. short form of
the Geriatric
Depression
Scale
Caregiver
burdens and
gratifications
Religious coping was
associated with worse
overall physical health
and was not associated
with depression
Religion: 91%
Protestant, 8% Catholic,
1% other
The search for spiritual
help was not associated
with subjective or
objective burden
Religious denomination
was not associated with
burdens and
gratifications in
caregivers of children
living in the home or in
children who had been
placed out of the home
15
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Meller,
2001)
Caregiver
Characteristics
49 dementia caregivers
and 58 caregivers of
hospitalized patients
(35% spouses, 61%
children, 33% male),
mean age 58
Criteria for
Caregiving
Person who
provided the
most support
for the patient
Design
Crosssectional
sample
recruited
from two
hospitals in
Israel
Religion/spirituality
Measure
1. Religious Faith: 8
questions concerning belief in
God, in supreme worldconduction power, in
personal divine supervision,
etc. : .89
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
1. Physical health
2. Mental health: Short
Psychiatric Evaluation
Schedule, b) Affect Balance
Scale,
3. Life satisfaction
4. Financial resources : .85
5. Frequency of phone
contacts with family/friends,
b) visits with friends/family,
c) frequency of synagogue
attendance, d) frequency of
club attendance, e) time
spent relaxing, f) satisfaction
with social activities
Religious faith was
associated with fewer
doctor’s visits and
psychiatric symptoms
and with higher life
satisfaction, phone
contact and synagogue
attendance in children
caregivers
Religious faith was
associated with worse
self-rated health and
with more psychiatric
symptoms and
synagogue attendance in
spousal caregivers.
16
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Mickley
et al.,
1998)
Caregiver
Characteristics
92 hospice caregivers
(43% spouses, 37%
parents, 30% Catholic,
50% Protestant, 20%
Jewish/other, 22%
male), mean age 57
Criteria for
Caregiving
Primary
caregiver of a
patient
enrolled in
home hospice
Design
Religion/spirituality Measure
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
Crosssectional
sample
recruited
from 4
hospices in
the Midwest
Religious Appraisals: 1) Successful
(benevolent religious reframing,
God’s will), 2) Partially successful
(God’s punishment, loving but
limited God, work of the devil), 3)
Failure (apathetic God, unfair God)
1. CES-D
2. Beck Anxiety
Inventory (BAI)
3. Purpose in Life Test
4. General Outcomes
Scale: What individual
learned form the event,
how well they handled
the event and their
feelings and the extent
to which they felt better
about themselves.
Benevolent religious
reframing was
positively associated
with better general
outcome
God’s will was
associated with better
general outcome and
purpose in life
Work of the devil
was associated with
better general
outcome
Apathetic God and
Unfair God were
associated with worse
general outcome and
less purpose in life
and associated with
more depression and
anxiety
17
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Miltiades
&
Pruchno,
2002)
(Moen et
al., 1995)
(Motenko,
1989)
Caregiver
Characteristics
142 mothers of
adults with mental
retardation (50%
White, 50% Black,
51% married), mean
age 64
Criteria for
Caregiving
Mother of adults
with mental
retardation (28%
mild, 36%
moderate, 36%
severe)
Design
Religion/spirituality Measure
Cross-sectional
subsample
recruited
throughout the
U.S.
53 women (100%
White), age range
53-81
Person
providing
assistance to ill,
handicapped, or
older relatives
30 year
longitudinal
sample recruited
from a midsized
community in
upstate New
York
Religious Coping: How often during
month the mother’s prayed for guidance,
sought God’s help, prayed for strength,
found comfort in religion, put their trust
in God and prayed more than usual when
dealing with problems with their child.
Two questions asked whether the mother
believed her religion helped her to accept
her child’s disability and whether having
a child with a developmental disability
had brought the mother closer to God. :
.91
Church Attendance: more than or less
than once a month.
50 spouses of
dementia patients
(100% White),
mean age 70
Wife caring for
husband at home
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from support
groups,
newsletters, a
memory disorder
center and VA
hospital in
Boston
Religion: 52% Catholic, 34% Protestant
and 14% Jewish
Outcome
Measure
1. Caregiving
satisfaction
2. Subjective
burden
3. Quality of
the motherchild
relationship
Salient Findings
1. Mastery
scale
2. Rosenberg’s
self-esteem
scale
3. Depression
4. General Life
Satisfaction:
: .69
5. Role
conflict
1. Frustrations
with
caregiving
2.
Gratifications
with
caregiving
Church attendance
was associated with
less depression and
higher self esteem.
Religious coping
was associated with
more caregiving
satisfaction but had
no association with
burden or quality of
the mother-child
relationship.
Church attendance
was not associated
with mastery, life
satisfaction, or role
conflict
Religious
denomination was
not associated with
frustrations or
gratifications with
caregiving
18
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
Caregiver Characteristics
(Ohaeri
et al.,
1999)
106 caregivers of cancer and
infertility patients (78%
married), mean age 35
(Orford
et al.,
2001)
200 (100 in England and 100
in Mexico) caregivers of
persons with alcohol problems
(43% spouse/partner, 40%
parents, 31% male), age: in
Mexico 49% are less than 40,
in England 41% are less than
40
Criteria for
Caregiving
Relative directly
involved in the
informal
caregiving role at
home
Relative who had
been living for at
least 6 months
with a close family
member with drug
or alcohol
problems
Design
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from a radiation
oncology and a
gynecology clinic
in Nigeria
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from alcohol and
drug treatment
services,
community
agencies and public
advertising
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Cancer Attributions: Belief
in “God’s Will” and
“Satan’s Work” as
causative factors in cancer
Outcome
Measure
Caregiver burden
Salient Findings
Religiosity: active vs.
inactive. 29% active Roman
Catholic, 9% active
Protestant, 60% inactive,
1% missing
Engaged, tolerantinactive and
withdrawal
subscales of the
Coping
Questionnaire
Active religiosity
was associated
with more
tolerant-inactive
coping in
Mexican
caregivers only
Cancer
attributions were
not associated
with burden
Religiosity was
not associated
with engaged or
withdrawal
coping
19
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Pargament
et al., 1999)
(Park &
Folkman,
1997)
Caregiver
Characteristics
150 caregivers of
persons undergoing
coronary bypass
surgery (87% White,
30% male), mean
age 43
105 male partners of
HIV patients, mean
age 38
Criteria for
Caregiving
Family member
of person
undergoing
coronary bypass
surgery
Partner living
with an AIDS
patient needing
assistance with
more than 2
activities of
daily living
Design
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from surgical
waiting rooms
Cross-sectional analysis
from a 20 month
longitudinal sample
recruited from San
Francisco via media outlets,
clinics/organizations and
directed mailings
Religion/spirituality
Measure
1. Religious Coping
Activities Scale:
Collaborative, Deferring,
Self-directing and
Pleading.
2. Church attendance
3. Frequency of prayer
4. Self-rated
religiousness
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
1. Coping Outcomes
Measure: What the
individual learned
from the event, how
well they handled the
event and their
feelings and the
extent to which they
felt better about
themselves.
2. Religious
outcomes: assess
perceived changes in
individuals’ spiritual
growth, closeness to
God and closeness to
the church
3. CES-D
4. Beck Anxiety
Inventory
Collaborative
religious coping was
associated with
better coping and
religious outcomes.
1. Religious activities
2. Religious beliefs
Life Orientation Test
Religious activities
and beliefs were not
associated with
prebereavement
optimism
Collaborative, selfdirecting and
pleading religious
coping were
associated with more
depression and
anxiety
20
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
Caregiver Characteristics
(Picot,
1994)
83 caregivers of dementia
patients (100% African
American, 13% spouses, 60%
children), mean age 59
(Picot et
al.,
1997)
391 caregivers of community
dwelling elderly with any type
of illness or disability (10%
spouse, 69%
children/grandchildren, 65%
White, 35% Black, 16%
male), mean age 52
(Polen &
Green,
2001)
689 caregivers of community
dwelling individuals (87%
White, 2.5% Black, 42%
parents, 18% spouses, 31%
male), mean age 56
Criteria for
Caregiving
Person responsible
for the majority of
daily coordinating
decisions or for
delivering of
physical, social or
emotional care to a
demented person
older than 54 who
was living in the
community
Individual who
provided or
coordinated care for
the care recipient for
a minimum of 5
hours weekly
Person providing
ongoing assistance
or care to another
person because of
that person’s health
status
Design
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from the news
media and from a
variety of
agencies that
serve the elderly
population
Cross-sectional
sample generated
from random
digit dialing in a
large
metropolitan area
in a Midwestern
state
Cross-sectional
random sample of
the Kaiser
Permanente
Northwest Region
Health
Maintenance
Organization
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Religious preference: 83%
Protestant, 2% Catholic,
15% other
Outcome
Measure
Picot Caregiver
Rewards Scale
Salient Findings
Religiosity: 1)
Organizational: frequency
of attendance, 2)
Nonorganizational: prayer,
3) Subjective: self assessed
religiosity and comfort
from religion
Picot Caregiver
Rewards Scale
Frequency of attending
religious services: never,
not very frequently,
somewhat frequently,
frequently, very frequently
1. Mental
Health Index
subscale of the
SF-36
2. Role
limitations due
to Emotional
Problems
subscale of the
SF-36
3. BSI-8
Depression
Screen
4. Anxiety
5. Alcohol
consumption
Black caregivers
reported higher levels
of rewards than
White caregivers.
Comfort from
religion and prayer
mediated this
relationship.
Frequency of
religious attendance
was associated with
less alcohol
consumption and was
not associated with
psychological wellbeing, role
limitations,
depression, or
anxiety.
Religious preference
was not associated
with caregiver
rewards
21
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Quayhagen
&
Quayhagen,
1988)
(Rabins,
Fitting,
Eastham, &
Fetting, 1990)
Caregiver
Characteristics
58 dementia
caregivers (74%
spouses, 26%
children, 29% male),
mean age 64
Criteria for
Caregiving
Person with
responsibility for a
family member with
probable Alzheimer’s
disease
Design
62 caregivers of
dementia (n=32) and
cancer patients (n=30)
(77% spouses, 85%
White, 31% male),
mean age 61
Caregivers of
dementia patients
were the primary care
providers. Caregivers
for cancer patients
were family members
who lived with them
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from a
psychogeriatric
clinic and oncology
center in Baltimore,
MD
1. Number of religious
services attended
2. Religious faith: “The
feeling that one is
supported and comforted
by one’s faith”
Cross-sectional
sample primarily
recruited through
support groups
Religion/spirituality
Measure
The existential growth
subscale of the Coping
Strategies Questionnaire.
: .79
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
Well-being. A
composite scale
consisting of the Life
Satisfaction Index
and perceived
physical and
emotional health
1. General Health
Questionnaire: a
screening item for
emotional disorder
2. Affect Balance
Scale
Existential growth
was associated
with greater wellbeing in wives
only
(Rabins,
Fitting,
Eastham, &
Zabora, 1990)
50 caregivers of
dementia (n=28) and
cancer patients
(n=22), (31% male)
mean age 61
Caregivers of
dementia patients
were the primary care
providers. Caregivers
for cancer patients
were family members
who lived with them
2 year longitudinal
sample recruited
from a
psychogeriatric
clinic and oncology
center in Baltimore,
MD
Self reported strength of
religious beliefs
Affect Balance Scale
(Rabkin et al.,
2000)
31 spouses of
amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis patients
(81% White, 10%
Latino, 7% Asian,
39% male), mean age
53
Spouses
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from an ALS clinic
in New York City
Religious Beliefs
Inventory
1. BDI
2. Zarit Caregiver
Burden Scale
Religious
attendance was
not associated
with emotional
state
Religious faith
was associated
with a more
positive and less
negative
emotional state
Strength of
religious beliefs
had a significant
effect on the
change in positive
and negative
affect balance
scores over two
years
Religious beliefs
were not
associated with
depression or
burden
22
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Rammohan et
al., 2002)
Caregiver
Characteristics
60 caregivers of
schizophrenia patients
(100% Hindu, 48%
male), mean age 49
Criteria for
Caregiving
Individual who
lived with the
patient for greater
than a year and
was involved in
the care of the
patient
Design
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from a hospital in
India
Religion/spirituality
Measure
1. Strength of Religious
Beliefs: measured with a
single item on an 11 point
scale
2. Religion/Faith subscale
of the Coping Checklist
Outcome
Measure
Psychological
well-being
Questionnaire
Salient Findings
Strength of religious
beliefs was
associated with
greater
psychological wellbeing
Religion/Faith were
not associated with
psychological wellbeing
(Redinbaugh
et al., 2003)
31 caregivers of home
hospice patients with
cancer (87% white, 13%
African American, 71%
spouses, 32% male),
mean age 56
Primary caregiver
who resided in the
patient’s home
(Rimmerman
& Muraver,
2001)
160 mothers of adults
with mental retardation,
mean age 69
Aging mothers of
adult children with
moderate
retardation
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from two nonprofit
hospice
organizations in
southwestern
Pennsylvania
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from sheltered
employment
programs in Israel
The Seeking Spiritual
Support subscale of the
Family Crisis Oriented
Personal Scales (FCOPES)
1. BSI
2. Caregiver
Burden Screen
Seeking spiritual
support was not
associated with
caregiver strain
Religiosity: Orthodox
(34%) vs.
Traditional/Secular (66%)
1. Affect
Balance Scale
2. Ludden
Social Network
Scale
3. Inventory of
Small Life
Events
Religiosity was not
associated with
well-being, social
support, or
undesirable daily
life events
23
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
Caregiver Characteristics
Design
17 wives of dementia patients
(100% White), mean age 65
Criteria for
Caregiving
Wife, older than 50,
caring at home for a
husband with early
stage dementia
(Robinson
& Kaye,
1994)
(Roff et
al., 2004)
275 African American and
343 Caucasian caregivers of
individuals with Alzheimer’s
dementia. (7% husbands and
20% wives in African
Americans, 20% husbands
and 41% wives in
Caucasians), mean age 58 in
African Americans and 65 in
Caucasians
Adult in caregiving
role for at least 6
months who lived
with and provided at
least 4 hours of care
to a family member
with impairment in
at least 1 basic
activity of daily
living
Cross-sectional
analysis from an 18
month longitudinal
sample recruited
from Birmingham,
Alabama; Memphis,
Tennessee; and
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from the Alzheimer’s
association, home
health agencies and
senior centers
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Spiritual Perspective Scale: a
10-item scale measuring
participant’s perspective of
the extent to which certain
spiritual views are held and
spiritually related interactions
are utilized
Outcome
Measure
1. CES-D
2. Social
support
Salient Findings
Summary scale of 3 items:
1. Importance of religion
2. Attendance at religious
services or activities
3. Frequency of prayer or
meditation
: .80
Positive
Aspects of
Caregiving
Religiosity was
associated with
more positive
aspects of
caregiving.
Spiritual
perspective was
not associated
with depression
or social support
African
Americans’
higher religiosity
partially mediated
the relationship
between race and
positive aspects
of caregiving
24
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Rudd et
al., 1999)
(Schwartz
& Gidron,
2002)
(Shah et
al., 2001)
(Sherif et
al., 2001)
Caregiver
Characteristics
60 dementia
caregivers (77%
Australian, 18%
Anglo other, 50%
male) age: 7% 51-60,
25% 61-70, 47% 7180, 21% older than 80
Criteria for
Caregiving
Spouses
Design
Religion/spirituality Measure
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from nursing
homes, respite centers,
daycare centers,
support groups and
other organizations
than provided services
to caregivers of
dementia patients
Importance of Spirituality: 1)
External spiritual support
received, 2) Importance of
external spiritual support and 3)
Importance of support from
internal spiritual resources
93 parents of persons
with schizophrenia or
schizoaffective
disorder (14% male),
mean age 58
48 dementia
caregivers (94%
White, 27% male),
mean age 65
Parent living
with adult
child with
severe mental
illness
Self defined
primary
caregiver
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from self help
support groups in
Israel
Level of Religiosity: not defined
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from the
Alzheimer’s
Association support
groups in Houston, TX
60 caregivers of
cancer (n=30) and
hospitalized (n=30)
patients
The most
attendant
caregiver
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from a
hospital in Saudi
Arabia
1. Duke University Religion
Index: 5-item scale measuring
organizational,
nonorganizational and intrinsic
religiosity
2. Religious Coping Activities
Scale: 29-item scale consisting
of 6 subscales that measure the
extent to which a person turns to
religion, in both positive and
negative ways, in response to
stressful life circumstances
Spiritual Well-being subscale of
the Quality of Life Scale
Outcome
Measure
1. Cognitive
Anxiety Scale
2. Hostility In
Scale
3. Hostility Out
Scale
4. Guilt Anxiety
Scale
5. Affect Balance
Scale
Gratifications of
Caregiving
Salient Findings
1. Geriatric
Depression Scale
2. Zarit Burden
Interview
Religious discontent
was associated with
greater depression and
burden.
Physical,
Psychological
and Social Wellbeing subscales
of the Quality of
Life Scale
Spiritual well-being
was associated with
greater overall,
physical,
psychological and
social well-being.
Adjusting for the
importance of
spirituality had little
effect on the
relationships between
caregiver gender,
place of care (nursing
home vs. home) and
outcomes
Religiosity was not
associated with
caregiving rewards
25
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
Caregiver
Characteristics
178 caregivers of
patients with
schizophrenia or major
affective disorders
Criteria for
Caregiving
Close relative
(Soothill
et al.,
2002)
189 cancer caregivers
(73% spouses, 11%
children, 51% male),
mean age 57
Main carer
(Spruytte
et al.,
2002)
144 dementia caregivers
(31% male), mean age
63
Partners, children,
children in law
Cross-sectional
random sample
recruited from
community
services in
Belgium
Religiosity: “Does the
carer call
himself/herself
religious”: yes/no
(Stueve et
al., 1997)
180 caregivers of
patients with
schizophrenia or major
affective disorder (52%
White, 24% Black, 24%
Hispanic, 58% parents,
19% male), mean age 54
Person with the
greatest contact and
knowledge of the
patient and who has
at least monthly
contact with the
patient or one of the
patient’s service
providers
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from a
psychiatric
inpatient unit or
ambulatory
service in New
York
1. Religious
involvement:
Frequency of church
attendance
2. Importance of
religion in life
(Shibre et
al., 2001)
Design
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from a health
care center in
Ethiopia
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
from outpatient
services in
England
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Religion: Muslim vs.
Christian
Religious Faith: “Do
you have religious
faith” yes/no
Outcome
Measure
Attributions and
Stigma subscales
of the Family
Interview
Schedule
48 Psychosocial
Needs
1. Perceived
Criticism Scale
2. A 14-item
scale that assess
the degree of
warmth, conflict
and critique. :
.82
Perceived
Burden Scale. :
.69-.80
Salient Findings
Religion was not associated
with attributions to
supernatural forces or to
stigma
Religious faith was
associated with an increased
incidence of 4 nonspiritual
needs: 1) support from
neighbors, 2) help in dealing
with unpredictability, 3)
support from family, 4) help
in finding a sense of purpose
and meaning
Religiosity was not
associated with criticism,
warmth, conflict, or critique
Religious involvement and
importance of religion in life
were not associated with
perceived burden.
26
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Taylor et
al., 1993)
Caregiver
Characteristics
12 caregivers of
cancer patients (74%
married, 22% male),
age 22% younger
than 50, 36% age 5164 and 42% older
than 65
Criteria for
Caregiving
Person who lived with
patient and provided
caregiving activities
Design
6 month longitudinal
sample recruited from
medical centers in a
Northeastern urban city
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Church attendance:
never (12%),
occasionally (40%), or
regular (48%)
Outcome Measure
Siegal
Multidimensional
Anger Inventory
Religion: not defined
(Teel et al.,
2001)
83 caregivers of
stroke patients (83%
White, 61% spouses,
80% married, 29%
male), mean age 57
Family member or
friend taking primary
responsibility for
managing the aftercare
of the patient
5 month longitudinal
sample recruited from
hospitals in Kansas City,
KA
Spiritual Perspective
Scale: Scale reflects the
importance of spiritual
views in one’s life
1. Physical Health
subscale of the
Caregiver Reaction
Assessment
2. CES-D
(Thara &
Srinivasan,
2000)
159 caregivers of
schizophrenia
patients (Over 50%
parents, 30%
spouses, 52% male),
mean age 50
257 female dementia
caregivers (57%
White, 43% Latina,
39% spouses), mean
age 57
Person living with the
patient who spent the
maximum time and
effort in caring for the
patient
Cross-sectional sample
recruited from an
outpatient schizophrenia
department in India
Religion: Hindu (87%),
Christian (8%) and
Muslim (5%)
Adult in caregiving
role for at least 6
months who lived with
and provided at least 4
hours of care to a
family member
suffering at least 2
instrumental activity
of daily living or 1
activity of daily living
impairment
Cross-sectional analysis
from an 18 month
longitudinal sample
recruited from six sites in
the United States –
Boston, Massachusetts;
Birmingham, Alabama;
Memphis, Tennessee;
Miami, Florida;
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; and Palo
Alto, California
The Spirituality
subscale of the Older
Persons Pleasant Events
Schedule.
Familial Interview
Schedule: A scale that
assesses the nature
and degree of stigma
experienced by the
primary caregiver
CES-D
(Thompson
et al., 2002)
Salient
Findings
Caregivers
who attended
church had
significantly
lower anger
scores
Religion was
not associated
with anger
Spiritual
perspective
was not
associated with
physical health
or depression
Hindus
experienced
more stigma
Spirituality
was associated
with less
depression in
Latina
caregivers only
27
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Tix &
Frazier,
1998)
Caregiver
Characteristics
123 caregivers of
kidney transplant
patients (66% spouses,
17% parents, 26%
male), mean age 46
(VernooijDassen et
al., 1997)
85 dementia caregivers
(49% spouses, 37%
children, 32% male),
mean age 63
(Wright et
al., 1985)
240 dementia
caregivers
Criteria for
Caregiving
Person closest to the
patient
Family member,
friend, or relative
who takes personal
responsibility for
provision of care
Not specified
Design
Religion/spirituality
Measure
1. Religious Coping: overall
degree to which individuals
used religion to deal with
transplant related stresses. :
.92
2. Religious denomination:
Protestant (47%), Catholic
(36%)
Outcome
Measure
1. Life
Satisfaction
2. Depression,
Anxiety and
Hostility
subscales of the
Brief Symptom
Inventory
10 month
longitudinal sample
recruited via general
practitioners
Religion (Catholic or
Protestant) vs. no religion
Sense of
Competence :
.79
Cross sectional
sample recruited from
Alzheimer’s disease
seminars and support
groups throughout the
Western states
The Seeking of Spiritual
Support subscale of the
Family Crisis Oriented
Personal Evaluation Scales
questionnaire
1. Caregiver
Burden Scale
2. Reframing
coping strategy
from the Family
Coping Strategies
instrument
9 month longitudinal
sample recruited from
a university hospital
in Minnesota
Salient Findings
Religious coping
was associated
with greater life
satisfaction
Religious coping
was associated
with more
psychiatric
distress in
Catholics
Catholics had a
greater sense of
competence
Seeking spiritual
support was
associated with
less burden and
more reframing
coping
28
Running Title: Religion and Caregiver Well-being
Citation
(Yeh et al.,
2002)
Caregiver
Characteristics
77 caregivers of
nursing home patients
(52% children, 20%
spouses, 49% male),
mean age 51
Criteria for Caregiving
Design
Person with the primary
responsibility to provide
care to a person over 60
who needed help with 2
instrumental activity of
daily living or 1 activity
of daily living for greater
than 4 weeks
4 month
longitudinal
sample recruited
from nursing
homes and
hospital in
Taiwan
Religion/spirituality
Measure
Religious Preferences:
Buddhist/Taoist (62%),
Christian (24%), none
(14%)
Outcome Measure
Salient Findings
Esteem, lack of
family support,
impact on finances,
impact on schedule,
impact on health
Caregiver Reaction
Assessment scale
Religious
preference was not
associated with
burden, family
support, caregiver
esteem, impact on
finances, or impact
on schedule
(Zunzunegui
et al., 1999)
194 caregivers of
community dwelling
elderly (34% spouses,
54% children, 18%
male), mean age 66
Person who most helps
with six personal care
activities
Cross-sectional
sample recruited
as part to the
Aging in
Leganes Study.
Self reported religiosity:
very, somewhat, or not
at all
CES-D
(M.V.
Zunzunegui
et al., 2002)
119 caregivers of
community dwelling
elderly (14% male)
ages: 29% <54, 31%
55-64, 19% 65-74,
21% >75
Person who most helps
with six personal care
activities
12 month
longitudinal
sample recruited
as part to the
Aging in
Leganes Study.
Self reported religiosity:
very, somewhat, or not
at all
CES-D
Religious
preference was
associated (the
direction of the
association not
specified) with
perceived health
Religiosity was
associated with
more depression in
child caregivers
and less depression
in spousal
caregivers
Religiosity was not
associated with
depression
29