Exploring Spirituality in Family Caregivers of Patients With Primary Malignant Brain Tumors Across the Disease Trajectory

Abstract

Purpose/Objectives To determine whether the perceived level of spirituality in family caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors (PMBTs) changes across the disease trajectory. Design Ongoing descriptive, longitudinal study. Setting Southwestern Pennsylvania. Sample 50 family caregivers of patients with PMBT. Methods Caregivers and care recipients were recruited at time of diagnosis. Participants were interviewed at two subse-quent time points, four and eight months following diagnosis. Main Research Variables Care recipients’ symptoms, neuro-psychologic status, and physical function, as well as caregiver social support. Findings Results showed no significant difference in spirituality scores reported at baseline and eight months (p = 0.8), suggesting that spirituality may be a stable trait across the disease trajectory. Conclusions Spirituality remains relatively stable along the course of the disease trajectory. Reports of caregiver depressive symptoms and anxiety were lower when paired with higher reports of spirituality. Implications for Nursing Clinicians can better identify caregivers at risk for negative outcomes by identifying those who report lower levels of spirituality. Future interventions should focus on the development and implementation of interventions that provide protective buffers such as increased social support. Knowledge Translation Spirituality is a relatively stable trait. High levels of spirituality can serve as a protective buffer from negative mental health outcomes. Caregivers with low levels of spirituality may be at risk for greater levels of burden, anxiety, and stress.

Caregiving experiences predict changes in spiritual well-being among family caregivers of cancer patients

“…In the present study, little change in caregivers' faith occurred across the 4-month study period. To our knowledge, this study is the first to specifically examine potential changes in caregivers' faith during the initial months following a loved one's cancer diagnosis, whereas prior research has documented the stability of caregivers' global SWB across the cancer trajectory [18,19]. Although a cancer diagnosis may result in heightened existential concerns [6], the present findings suggest that caregivers' comfort from religious beliefs is relatively stable during this adjustment period.…”

“…In general, cancer patients have reported mean global SWB scores at the upper end of the scale, with a wide range of SWB scores represented across studies [12][13][14]. Cancer caregivers' SWB has received less research attention, with a few studies indicating that their levels of SWB are comparable with those of cancer patients and relatively stable over time [15][16][17][18][19].…”

The Relationship Between Social Support, Spirituality With Stress Towards the Burden of Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Literature Review

“…The spirituality was multidimensional connectedness such as interpersonal, intrapersonal, and transpersonal connectedness. Interpersonal connectedness refers to relationships with individuals, nature, and surroundings; intrapersonal connectedness refers to personal relationships with oneself that focus on self-strength, and transpersonal connectedness refers to a relationship with God or a higher power (21).…”

“…High perceptions of spirituality are associated with low depressive symptoms, deep distress, and increased the quality of life for individuals diagnosed with life-threatening diseases (21). Spirituality also affects family caregivers.…”

The impact of a spiritual legacy intervention in patients with brain cancers and other neurologic illnesses and their support persons

“…In a recent study, caregivers with higher levels of spirituality had fewer depressive symptoms and less anxiety than those with lower levels of spirituality. This relationship appears to impact the health and QOL of caregivers and may also affect the care they provide for their loved ones .…”