Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T13:55:53.189Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Spirituality and self-efficacy in dementia family caregiving: trust in God and in yourself

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 August 2012

J. Lopez ,
R. Romero-Moreno ,
M. Marquez-González  and
A. Losada
J. Lopez*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Madrid, Spain
R. Romero-Moreno
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
M. Marquez-González
Affiliation:
Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
A. Losada
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Javier Lopez, Departamento de Psicologia, Universidad San Pablo CEU, 28668-Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain. Phone: +34 91 372 47 00; Fax: +34 91 372 40 00. Email: [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: Research indicates that spirituality and self-efficacy have been associated with higher levels of caregivers’ well-being. However, these two concepts have rarely been examined simultaneously. The aim of this study was to analyze the combined effect of spirituality and self-efficacy on the caregiving stress process.

Methods: The study design was cross-sectional. Dementia family caregivers (n = 122) were assessed in relation to the following variables: stressors (time since caregiving began, daily hours caring, frequency of behavioral problems, patient's functional status); appraisal (caregiver's appraisal of behavioral problems), caregiver's personal resources (self-efficacy, spiritual meaning, social support), and outcomes (depression and anxiety).

Results: Participants were divided into four groups corresponding to four profiles defined by their scores on spiritual meaning and self-efficacy: LELS = Low self-efficacy and low spirituality; HELS = High self-efficacy and low spirituality; LEHS = Low self-efficacy and high spirituality; and HEHS = High self-efficacy and high spirituality. No differences were found between groups in stressors, appraisal, or personal resources. Caregivers in the HEHS group had significantly less depression compared to the LEHS group. Regression analysis showed that being a HEHS caregiver, low appraisal of behavioral problems and high social support were associated with low caregiver depression. Only high appraisal of behavioral problems was associated with high levels of anxiety.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that spirituality and self-efficacy had an additive effect on caregivers’ well-being. A high sense of spiritual meaning and a high self-efficacy, in combination, was associated with lower levels of depression in caregivers.

Keywords

dementia caregiversspiritual meaningcompetencestress processcopinganxietydepression
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 12 , December 2012 , pp. 1943 - 1952
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ai, A. L., Peterson, C., Rodgers, W. and Tice, T. N. (2005). Effects of faith and secular factors on health locus of control in middle-aged and older cardiac patients. Aging and Mental Health, 9, 470–481. doi: 10.1080/13607860500142804.Google Scholar
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. New York: W.H. Freeman.Google Scholar
Cooper, C., Balamurali, T. B. S. and Livingston, G. (2007). Systematic review of the prevalence and covariates of anxiety in caregivers of people with dementia. International Psychogeriatrics, 19, 175–195.Google Scholar
Crespo, M., López, J. and Zarit, S. (2005). Depression and anxiety in primary caregivers: a comparative study of caregivers of demented and nondemented older persons. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20, 591–592.Google Scholar
Farran, C. J., Miller, B. H., Kaufman, J. E., Donner, E. and Fogg, L. (1999). Finding meaning through caregiving: development of an instrument for family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55, 1107–1125.Google Scholar
Fernández-Capo, M., Roque, M. V., Gual, P. and Cruz, F. (2002). Diseño de un cuestionario para cuidadores principales familiares de pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer [Design of a questionnaire related to Alzheimer caregivers]. Revista Multidisciplinar de Gerontología, 12, 190–196.Google Scholar
Fetzer Institute and National Institute on Aging Working Group (1999). Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality for Use in Health Research. Kalamazoo, MI: Fetzer Institute.Google Scholar
Gilliam, C. and Steffen, A. M. (2006). The Relationship between caregiving self-efficacy and depressed mood in dementia family caregivers. Aging & Mental Health, 10, 79–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haley, W. E. et al. (1996). Appraisal, coping, and social support as mediators of well-being in black and white family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 121–129.Google Scholar
Hebert, R. S., Weinstein, E., Martire, L. M. and Schulz, R. (2006). Religion, spirituality and the well-being of informal caregivers. Aging & Mental Health, 10, 497–520.Google Scholar
Holland, J. C. et al. (1999). The role of religious and spiritual beliefs in coping with malignant melanoma. Psycho-Oncology, 8, 14–26.Google Scholar
Iskender, M. (2009). The relationship between self-compassion, self-efficacy, and control beliefs about learning in Turkish university students. Social Behavior and Personality, 37, 711–720.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kinney, J. M., Ishler, K. J., Pargament, K. I. and Cavanaugh, J. C. (2003). Coping with the uncontrollable: the use of general and religious coping by caregivers to spouses with dementia. Journal of Religious Gerontology, 14, 171–188.Google Scholar
Lawton, M. P., Moos, M., Kleban, M. H., Glicksman, A. and Rovine, M. (1991). A two-factor model of caregiving appraisal and psychological well-being. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 46, P181–189.Google Scholar
Lim, J., Griva, K., Goh, J., Chionh, H. L. and Yap, P. (2011). Coping strategies influence caregiver outcomes among Asian family caregivers of persons with dementia in Singapore. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 25, 34–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mahoney, F. I. and Barthel, D. (1965). Functional evaluation: the Barthel Index. Maryland State Medical Journal, 14, 56–61.Google Scholar
Marquez-González, M., Losada, A., Lopez, J. and Peñacoba, C. (2009). Reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the revised scale for caregiving self-efficacy. Clinical Gerontologist, 32, 347–357.Google Scholar
Marquez-González, M., Lopez, J., Romero-Moreno, R. and Losada, A. (2012). Anger, spiritual meaning and support from the religious community in dementia caregiving. Journal of Religion and Health, 51, 179–186.Google Scholar
McNair, D. M., Lorr, M. and Droppleman, L. F. (1971). Profile of Mood States Manual. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Services.Google Scholar
Pagel, M. D., Becker, J. and Coppel, D. B. (1985). Loss of control, self-blame, and depression: an investigation of spouse caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 169–182.Google Scholar
Pearlin, L. I., Mullan, J. T., Semple, S. J. and Skaff, M. M. (1990). Caregiving and the stress process: an overview of concepts and their measures. Gerontologist, 30, 583–594.Google Scholar
Quinn, C., Clare, L. and Woods, R. T. (2010). The impact of motivations and meanings on the wellbeing of caregivers of people with dementia: a systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics, 22, 43–55.Google Scholar
Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale: a self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.Google Scholar
Reig, A., Ribera, D. and Miquel, J. (1991). Psychological support and daily stress in non-institutionalized elderly. Psychological Assessment, 7, 191–200.Google Scholar
Romero-Moreno, R., Losada, A., Mausbach, B. T., Marquez-González, M., Patterson, T. L. and Lopez, J. (2011). Analysis of the moderating effect of self-efficacy domains in different points of the dementia caregiving process. Aging & Mental Health, 15, 221–231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schieman, S. (2003). Perceived, generalized, and learned aspects of personal control. In Zarit, S., Pearlin, L. I. and Schaie, K. W. (eds.), Personal Control in Social and Life Contexts (pp. 71–81). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Schulz, R. and Williamson, G. M. (1991). A 2-year longitudinal study of depression among Alzheimer's caregivers. Psychology and Aging, 6, 569–578.Google Scholar
Steffen, A. M., McKibbin, C., Zeiss, A. M., Gallagher-Thompson, D. and Bandura, A. (2002). The revised scale for caregiving self-efficacy: reliability and validity studies. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 57B, 74–86.Google Scholar
Tabachnick, B. G. and Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using Multivariate Statistics. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.Google Scholar
Teri, L., Truax, P., Logsdon, R., Uomoto, J. and Zarit, S. (1992). Assessment of behavioral problems in dementia: the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist. Psychology and Aging, 7, 622–633.Google Scholar
Thompson, L. W., Solano, N., Kinoshita, L., Coon, D. W., Mausbach, B. and Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2002). Pleasurable activities and mood: differences between Latina and Caucasian dementia family caregivers. Journal of Mental Health and Aging, 8, 211–224.Google Scholar