The relationship between resilience and spiritual health in the Caregivers of Patients with End Stage Cancer

Regarding to the disabling nature of cancer that affects caregivers in addition to the cancer patients, the present study aimed to the relationship between resilience and spiritual health in the Caregivers of Patients with End Stage Cancer.

This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted on 120 cancer caregivers receiving to ALA cancer prevention and control center in Tehran during April-June 2018. The participants were selected via convenience sampling method. Data were collected using Spiritual well-being scale of Paloutzian and Ellison and the Conor-Davidson Resiliency Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS-22 using Pearson’s correlation-coefficient and multiple regression analysis. (P<0/01)

There was a significant relationship between total spiritual health variables, religious health, and existential health, with the resilience, which was 0.61, 0.51, and 0.57, respectively. Also, religious health (T = 3. 372, β = 0.286) and existential health (T = 5.022, β = 0.425) could significantly predict the resiliency. So these two variables could explain 39% of the variance of the resilience variable.

According to the results of the study, resilience in the caregivers of patients with end-stage cancer can be predicted by their spiritual health. As a result, caregiver's resiliency can be increased by providing spiritual care (religious and existential).