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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Jun 1;23(3):271-276.
doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000754.

Religious Involvement, Depressive Symptoms, and Burden in Caregivers of Terminally Ill Patients

Reiko Asano, Anela Kellogg, Dan Sulmasy, Kelley M Anderson, Marie T Nolan
Randomized Controlled Trial

Religious Involvement, Depressive Symptoms, and Burden in Caregivers of Terminally Ill Patients

Reiko Asano et al. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. .

Abstract

Caring for terminally ill patients can be emotionally burdensome. Previous research has demonstrated that caregiving is associated with anxiety and depression. Research on caregivers of terminally ill patients is limited by retrospective studies with small samples. This study aimed to (1) describe religiosity, religious coping, and depressive symptoms in caregivers of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or advanced cancer; (2) examine the relationship between religiosity and depressive symptoms in caregivers of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or advanced cancer; (3) examine the relationship between religious coping and depressive symptoms in caregivers of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or advanced cancer. A descriptive exploratory design was used to analyze data from a larger 5-year National Institutes of Health-funded multisite randomized controlled trial (the TAILORED study). Nearly half of the caregivers screened positive for depressive symptoms, and negative religious coping was associated with higher depressive symptoms (P < .001). Spouse caregivers reported higher depressive symptoms than nonspouse caregivers. Many caregivers experienced depression, which was mitigated by positive religious coping.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Caregiver CESD-10 Scores *49% of caregivers were screened positive for depressive symptoms (CES-D10 ≥10).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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