Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study,
a total of 100 female caregivers of the elderly with dementia referred to the
Iran Alzheimer's Association and a neurologic clinic were selected through
consecutive sampling in 2013. The data were collected using Perceived Stress
Scale (PSS) and Religious Coping Scale (RCOPE), and analyzed by independent
t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple linear
regression tests.
Results: The mean score of perceived stress was 30.00±5.86 (range 10-45). The caregivers who had received no help,
perceived higher level of stress (p=0.040). The mean score of positive
religious coping was 23.57±4.96 (range 7-28)
and negative religious coping was obtained 8.82±2.29 (range
7-19). There were significant relationships between positive religious coping
with educational level (p=0.023) and also between negative religious coping
with economic status (p=0.050). There were not significant correlations between
perceived stress with positive religious coping (r= 0.085, p=0.398) and also
with negative religious coping (r= -0.079, p=0.432).
Conclusion: Based on the results that showed the average level of
perceived stress and relatively favorable positive religious coping in
participants, the supportive educative interfering programs are suggested for
stress management and religious coping improvement in female caregivers of the elderly
with dementia.
Key words: Family
Caregivers, Dementia, Perceived Stress, Religious Coping, Women’s Health,
Elderly
Funding: This research was funded by Tehran University of Medical
Sciences
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical
approval: The Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical
Sciences approved the study
How to cite this article: Bastani F, Ghasemi E, Ramezanzadeh Tabriz E, Janani L,
Rahmatnejad L. The Investigation of Perceived Stress and Religious Coping among Female Caregivers of the Elderly
with Dementia. J RafsanjanUniv Med
Sci 2015 13(10): 925-36. [Farsi]
