Spirituality and Caregiver Burden of People with Intellectual Disabilities: an Empirical Study

Abstract

In recent years, interest in topics related to disabilities has grown. However, little attention has been devoted to people who constantly care for family members with an intellectual disability (ID). Thus, this study evaluated the relationship between the caregiver burden of people with intellectual disabilities and spirituality. The applied method was quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, and cross-sectional. The instruments used to collect data were a sociodemographic questionnaire, including questions extracted from the WHOQOL-100 (spiritual domain), and the following scales: Centrality of Religiosity; Brief Spiritual Religious Coping; Religious and Spiritual Struggles; Zarit Burden Interview and Satisfaction with Life Scale. One hundred twenty-nine people participated in the study. The sample was categorized as “highly religious” (57.3%), and 61.24% had an overload classified between moderate (36.43%) and severe (24.81%). The use of positive spiritual/religious coping methods was considered medium ( M = 3.44), and religious and spiritual struggles were low ( M = 1.71). Results show that those who considered themselves “spiritual and religious” highly use positive spiritual religious coping and score light burden and more life satisfaction. Such results indicate the importance of being attentive to the role of this dimension when planning emotional, psychological, and existential/spiritual support assistance. Public policies should consider the spiritual and religious dimension of those exclusively caring for people with intellectual disabilities. Studies focusing on how spiritual care can be provided to this population should be intensified.

Commonalities and Differences in the Experiences of Visible Minority Transnational Carer–Employees: A Qualitative Study

“…The interviewees in the current study also elucidated that they mitigated the stress from their dual responsibilities of care and work by staying in touch with their religious practices and spirituality. Existing scholarly research by Xavier and Esperandio [ 75 ], Britt et al [ 76 ], and Pearce et al [ 77 ] determined that religious and spiritual coping is a pivotal coping strategy for family caregivers and is linked with greater carer satisfaction and less carer burden. Studies distinguish that praying and reading religious texts can improve the mental health of those providing emotional, financial, and personal care to their family members with chronic illnesses [ 75 , 76 , 77 ].…”

“…Existing scholarly research by Xavier and Esperandio [75], Britt et al [76], and Pearce et al [77] determined that religious and spiritual coping is a pivotal coping strategy for family caregivers and is linked with greater carer satisfaction and less carer burden. Studies distinguish that praying and reading religious texts can improve the mental health of those providing emotional, financial, and personal care to their family members with chronic illnesses [75][76][77]. Previous literature by Marks and Dollahite [78] also explained that religiosity and spirituality promote the psychological well-being and subjective health of caregivers.…”