Abstract
Background: Research has indicated spirituality buffers the adverse effect of stress, but few studies have examined the role of spirituality in the context of providing cancer care. Purpose: This study examines the moderating effects of spirituality on the relation between caregiving stress and spousal caregivers' mental and physical health. In addition, gender differences in the target moderating effects are explored. Methods: A caregiver survey was mailed to familial caregivers nominated by their respective cancer survivors including measures of spirituality (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spirituality), caregiving stress (Pearlin Stress Scale), and mental and physical health (MOS Short Form-36). Four hundred and three spousal caregivers provided valid information on these measures. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses supported the hypothesized moderating effects of spirituality but in different patterns. Caregiving stress was associated with poorer mental functioning, which was less prominent among caregivers with a high level of spirituality (stress-buffering effect). Caregiving stress was also associated with poorer physical functioning but was only significant among caregivers with a high level of spirituality (stress-aggravating effect). The same stress-buffering or aggravating effects were found for both sexes. Conclusions: The findings suggest maintaining faith and finding meaning in cancer caregiving buffer the adverse effect of caregiving stress on mental health. Highly spiritual caregivers should also be encouraged to pay more attention to their physical health while providing cancer care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 90-98 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Annals of Behavioral Medicine |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
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The effect of spirituality and gender on the quality of life of spousal caregivers of cancer survivors. / Colgrove, LeighAnna Allen; Kim, Youngmee; Thompson, Nancy.
In: Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Vol. 33, No. 1, 01.03.2007, p. 90-98.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of spirituality and gender on the quality of life of spousal caregivers of cancer survivors
AU - Colgrove, LeighAnna Allen
AU - Kim, Youngmee
AU - Thompson, Nancy
PY - 2007/3/1
Y1 - 2007/3/1
N2 - Background: Research has indicated spirituality buffers the adverse effect of stress, but few studies have examined the role of spirituality in the context of providing cancer care. Purpose: This study examines the moderating effects of spirituality on the relation between caregiving stress and spousal caregivers' mental and physical health. In addition, gender differences in the target moderating effects are explored. Methods: A caregiver survey was mailed to familial caregivers nominated by their respective cancer survivors including measures of spirituality (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spirituality), caregiving stress (Pearlin Stress Scale), and mental and physical health (MOS Short Form-36). Four hundred and three spousal caregivers provided valid information on these measures. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses supported the hypothesized moderating effects of spirituality but in different patterns. Caregiving stress was associated with poorer mental functioning, which was less prominent among caregivers with a high level of spirituality (stress-buffering effect). Caregiving stress was also associated with poorer physical functioning but was only significant among caregivers with a high level of spirituality (stress-aggravating effect). The same stress-buffering or aggravating effects were found for both sexes. Conclusions: The findings suggest maintaining faith and finding meaning in cancer caregiving buffer the adverse effect of caregiving stress on mental health. Highly spiritual caregivers should also be encouraged to pay more attention to their physical health while providing cancer care.
AB - Background: Research has indicated spirituality buffers the adverse effect of stress, but few studies have examined the role of spirituality in the context of providing cancer care. Purpose: This study examines the moderating effects of spirituality on the relation between caregiving stress and spousal caregivers' mental and physical health. In addition, gender differences in the target moderating effects are explored. Methods: A caregiver survey was mailed to familial caregivers nominated by their respective cancer survivors including measures of spirituality (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spirituality), caregiving stress (Pearlin Stress Scale), and mental and physical health (MOS Short Form-36). Four hundred and three spousal caregivers provided valid information on these measures. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses supported the hypothesized moderating effects of spirituality but in different patterns. Caregiving stress was associated with poorer mental functioning, which was less prominent among caregivers with a high level of spirituality (stress-buffering effect). Caregiving stress was also associated with poorer physical functioning but was only significant among caregivers with a high level of spirituality (stress-aggravating effect). The same stress-buffering or aggravating effects were found for both sexes. Conclusions: The findings suggest maintaining faith and finding meaning in cancer caregiving buffer the adverse effect of caregiving stress on mental health. Highly spiritual caregivers should also be encouraged to pay more attention to their physical health while providing cancer care.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33847229093&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33847229093&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1207/s15324796abm3301_10
DO - 10.1207/s15324796abm3301_10
M3 - Article
C2 - 17291174
AN - SCOPUS:33847229093
VL - 33
SP - 90
EP - 98
JO - Annals of Behavioral Medicine
JF - Annals of Behavioral Medicine
SN - 0883-6612
IS - 1
ER -