Does the Tough Stuff Make Us Stronger? Spiritual Coping in Family Caregivers of Persons with Early-Stage Dementia

Abstract

Spiritual coping may be conceptualized as relying upon spiritual beliefs, practices and/or relationships as an aspect of navigating stressful or traumatic experiences. There is evidence that spirituality may be used as a resource and may cultivate growth for some in the midst of difficult life circumstances. There is limited research, however, on this phenomenon among family caregivers of persons living with a dementia, particularly those in the early stages. The purpose of the current study, therefore, was to gain insight into the nature of spiritual coping among caregivers of persons living with a dementia in the early part of their caregiving journey. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, interviews with 28 caregivers were analyzed. Five spiritual coping themes and corresponding subthemes emerged from their narratives: (1) spiritual relational coping; (2) spiritual behavioral coping; (3) spiritual belief coping; (4) spiritual coping to gain a sense of control; and (5) spiritual coping for constancy or life transformation. Three-fourths of the sampled caregivers reported growth in their spiritual lives during the early part of their caregiving journey. A sense of being “spiritually grounded” in the Divine (e.g., God, a higher power, a life philosophy) and oneself (as a spiritual being) was an important aspect of spiritual coping in this sample. Additionally, caregivers tended to use multiple forms of spiritual coping simultaneously while also navigating spiritual struggles. Finally, some caregivers viewed caregiving as a spiritual path that they were actively following rather than a passive spiritual experience. These findings speak to the importance of identifying and encouraging spiritual coping among caregivers as well as identifying spiritual struggles.

Exploration of family caregivers’ experiences on coping in dementia care in Ghana: a phenomenological study

“…The study also revealed that family caregivers relied on religious or spiritual reinforcements or support as a coping strategy. This is consistent with a plethora of studies [ 41 – 43 ] that have found that religious reinforcements serve as a major coping mechanism against the numerous strains of caregivers. Caregivers who sensed a strong spiritual connection within themselves and in their relationship with the Divine conveyed an enhanced ability to care for both themselves and their loved ones with dementia.…”

“…The study revealed that this coping strategy enabled caregivers to exercise patience as they navigated through the stress and strains of caregiving. Similar to McGee et al’s study [ 43 ], our study demonstrates that caregivers used spirituality as a resource to confirm the etiology of their family member’s condition. Essentially, looking up to spiritual support or divine interventions offers solace and a sense of purpose, thereby helping caregivers to navigate the emotional challenges associated with dementia care.…”

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

“…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 ].…”

“…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.…”

Hope Mediates Stress to Reduce Burden in Family Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Research also suggests that wives tend to experience greater burden than husbands [ 19 ]. Perceived social support is a protective factor against burden, based on a recent meta-analysis [ 20 ] as may be spirituality and faith [ 7 , 8 , 21 ].…”