TY - JOUR
T1 - Spiritual aspects of the family caregivers’ experiences when caring for a community-dwelling adult with severe mental illness
T2 - a systematic review of qualitative evidence
AU - Casaleiro, Tiago
AU - Caldeira, Sílvia
AU - Cardoso, Daniela
AU - Apóstolo, João
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was financially supported by National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the project UIDB/04279/2020
Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge the support of the Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), hosted by the Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC). This review contributes to the PhD of author TC.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - What is known on the subject?: Being a caregiver of a relative with severe mental illness often impacts the quality of life, physical and mental health. The use of coping strategies related to spirituality can enhance physical and mental well-being. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: This review found 26 primary studies that refer to spiritual aspects of the experience of caring for a relative with mental health problems. Caregivers express spiritual needs, such as hope and finding meaning in life, and spiritual or religious practices that help to cope with stressful situations. What are the implications for practice?: Spiritual needs and spiritual coping strategies of family caregivers of a relative with severe mental illness should be included in mental health nursing care. A spiritually sensitive approach should be used when promoting coping strategies of the family caregivers of a relative with severe mental illness. Abstract: Introduction Deinstitutionalization of individuals with severe mental illness transferred the responsibility of care to the relatives who need to adapt their personal life. Caregivers often develop coping strategies which involve the relationship with oneself, others, or the transcendent/God or nature and may include religious/spiritual practices. Question/Aim This review aims to identify the spiritual aspects of the family caregivers’ experiences when caring for a community-dwelling adult with severe mental illness. Method The review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. Search was conducted in March 2019, updated in August 2020, limited to English, Spanish and Portuguese. Results A total of 26 studies were included. Two synthesized findings emerged: spiritual coping strategies are used by family caregivers; spiritual needs are expressed by family caregivers. The findings are based on the experiences of 467 caregivers, from 14 countries. Discussion In stressful times, family caregivers question the meaning in life and acknowledge hopelessness. To cope, caregivers mention a turn to the sacred and the use of spiritual/religious practices. Implications for practice Spirituality should be considered according to caregivers’ individual beliefs and needs, as may represent important resources for the sense of meaning and overall well-being.
AB - What is known on the subject?: Being a caregiver of a relative with severe mental illness often impacts the quality of life, physical and mental health. The use of coping strategies related to spirituality can enhance physical and mental well-being. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: This review found 26 primary studies that refer to spiritual aspects of the experience of caring for a relative with mental health problems. Caregivers express spiritual needs, such as hope and finding meaning in life, and spiritual or religious practices that help to cope with stressful situations. What are the implications for practice?: Spiritual needs and spiritual coping strategies of family caregivers of a relative with severe mental illness should be included in mental health nursing care. A spiritually sensitive approach should be used when promoting coping strategies of the family caregivers of a relative with severe mental illness. Abstract: Introduction Deinstitutionalization of individuals with severe mental illness transferred the responsibility of care to the relatives who need to adapt their personal life. Caregivers often develop coping strategies which involve the relationship with oneself, others, or the transcendent/God or nature and may include religious/spiritual practices. Question/Aim This review aims to identify the spiritual aspects of the family caregivers’ experiences when caring for a community-dwelling adult with severe mental illness. Method The review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. Search was conducted in March 2019, updated in August 2020, limited to English, Spanish and Portuguese. Results A total of 26 studies were included. Two synthesized findings emerged: spiritual coping strategies are used by family caregivers; spiritual needs are expressed by family caregivers. The findings are based on the experiences of 467 caregivers, from 14 countries. Discussion In stressful times, family caregivers question the meaning in life and acknowledge hopelessness. To cope, caregivers mention a turn to the sacred and the use of spiritual/religious practices. Implications for practice Spirituality should be considered according to caregivers’ individual beliefs and needs, as may represent important resources for the sense of meaning and overall well-being.
KW - Carers/families
KW - Community care
KW - Patient experience
KW - Spirituality
KW - Systematic literature reviews
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123821179&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/jpm.12816
DO - 10.1111/jpm.12816
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34982492
AN - SCOPUS:85123821179
SN - 1351-0126
VL - 29
SP - 240
EP - 273
JO - Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
JF - Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
IS - 2
ER -