Introduction: The increase in the number of older adults with cancer generates high rates of dependency, leading to an exponential growth in the demand for informal caregivers, which implies having to address specific care needs that are the competence of nursing and can be addressed from the spiritual sphere as proposed by the Transpersonal Human Caring Theory.Objective: To determine the relationship between informal caregiver spirituality and resilience in the older adult with cancer.Materials and Methods: This is a quantitative, correlational, non-experimental study in which 42 older adults with cancer and their informal caregivers participated. The level of spirituality of the caregivers and the level of resilience of the older adults were measured. The correlation between the variables was calculated using Spearman's ρ test.Results: The mean age of the caregivers was 49.6 ± 15.6 years, 64.3% were female, 85.7% Catholic; 73.8% reported high levels of spirituality. Regarding the older adults, their mean age was 69.9 ± 7.1 years, 59.5% were female, 88.1% Catholic; the predominant type of cancer was gastric and leukemia; 83.3% reported high resilience. A positive correlation (r=0.440, p=<0.05) was found between caregiver spirituality and older adult resilience.Conclusions: The results provide scientific support for the Theory of Transpersonal Human Caring, as it acknowledges the conception of self and spirit (spiritual transcendence) described by Jean Watson.
Introducción: El incremento de ancianos con cáncer genera altos índices de dependencia que conlleva la demanda exponencial de cuidadores informales, representando necesidades de cuidado específicas que son competencía de enfermería y se pueden abordar desde la esfera espiritual como lo propone la Teoría del Cuidado Humano Transpersonal.Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre la espiritualidad del cuidador informal y la resiliencia del anciano con cáncer. Material y método: Estudio cuantitativo, correlacional, no experimental. Participaron 42 ancianos con cáncer y sus cuidadores informales. Se midió el nivel de espiritualidad de los cuidadores y el nivel de resiliencia de los ancianos. La correlación entre las variables se calculó mediante la prueba ρ de Spearman. Resultados: Edad media de los cuidadores 49.6±15.6 años, 64.3% mujeres, 85.7% católicos; 73.8% obtuvo niveles altos de espiritualidad. En los ancianos, edad media 69.9±7.1 años, 59.5% mujeres, 88.1% católicos; el tipo de cáncer predominante fue gástrico y leucemia; 83.3% obtuvo resiliencia alta. Se encontró correlación positiva (r=0.440, p=<0.05) entre la espiritualidad del cuidador y la resiliencia del anciano. Conclusiones: Los resultados constituyen un soporte científico para la Teoría del Cuidado Humano Transpersonal, pues acepta la concepción del ser y del espíritu (trascendencia espiritual) descritos por Jean Watson.