Perceived benefit or burden? How positive and negative spiritual/religious coping impacts family caregivers of people with dementia

Polson, Edward C.; Myers, Dennis R.; McClellan, Angela M.; Carlson Zhao, Holly; Meraz, Rebecca; McGee, Jocelyn Shealy

doi:10.1080/15528030.2024.2336499

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…A possible interpretation for our discovery that gratitude strongly predicts meaning in life presence, even in the context of burden, is that gratitude functions as an internal positive psychological asset. The research literature suggests that internal psychological resources such hope [ 18 ] and practicing positive spiritual techniques [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 48 ] impact meaning in life and one’s sense of purpose in this population [ 48 ]. Gratitude’s beneficial influence on meaning in life may also enhance a caregiver’s coping skills, buffering the impact of caregiving challenges [ 37 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is some evidence that caregivers who identify as Black or African American tend to have worse physical wellbeing outcomes as compared to their White counterparts, even when their overall psychological well-being may be similar or better [ 12 ]. Conversely, having greater social support [ 13 ], drawing from one’s religious and spiritual beliefs and practices [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], and hope [ 18 ] can reduce the degree of burden experienced in family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gratitude Predicts Meaning in Life in Family Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease

McGee,

Polson,

Myers

et al. 2024

Geriatrics

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Gratitude is a well-known and researched internal positive psychological resource. Empirical data, however, on the association between gratitude, meaning in life, and burden in family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease is scant. The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the relationships among these variables in a sample of family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s; and (2) determine if gratitude mediates the effects of perceived burden on meaning in life in this population. One-hundred and twenty-six adult family caregivers, most of whom were an intimate partner or adult child of a person with Alzheimer’s, completed the Gratitude Questionnaire-Six Item, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Zarit Burden Inventory, and other relevant measures. A series of OLS regression models, guided by the caregiver stress process model, were conducted. These analyses demonstrated that gratitude was a predictor of the presence of meaning in life among the caregivers in this study even when other key variables were considered. Furthermore, analyses revealed that gratitude fully mediated the effects of caregiver burden on the presence of meaning in life in this sample. Thus, clinicians should consider gratitude as an important internal resource for cultivating meaning in life in this population, especially when caregiver burden is present. Gratitude-bolstering clinical interventions should be further developed and tested as both stand-alone and complimentary additions to empirically supported psychoeducational approaches for supporting health and well-being in this population.

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