Abstract
To examine the relationship among religious participation, stress, and well-being, 84 caregivers of Alzheimer's patients and 81 control subjects completed the Religiosity Scale, Life-3, and Medical Outcomes Study well-being measures. Caregivers only completed the Relative's Stress Scale. No differences were found between groups in religious practices, although caregivers indicated higher levels of clergy-visiting than the others and control subjects indicated a greater met need for contact with the church or synagogue. In contrast, control subjects show higher levels of well-being, social functioning, and mental health than caregivers. In care-givers, significant relationships were found among several religiosity variables, stress, and well-being.
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The author wishes to acknowledge the thoughtful responses of Dr. Phyllis Dexter and Dr. Robert Topp to this manuscript. The research was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the Clinical Nurse Scholars Program, University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y.
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Burgener, S.C. Caregiver religiosity and well-being in dealing with Alzheimer's dementia. J Relig Health 33, 175–189 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02354538
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02354538