The Association Between Spiritual Well-Being and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Family Caregivers of Patients with Mental Disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Families serve as the primary caregivers for individuals living with severe and persistent mental disorders (SPMDs). However, the diverse and extensive caregiving roles can lead to psychological challenges, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, among family members. Spiritual well-being has been identified as an important protective factor for caregivers. Recognizing the role of spirituality in mitigating stressors, this study aimed to examine the association between spiritual well-being and the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress experienced by family caregivers of individuals with SPMDs. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study included 122 family caregivers of patients with SPMDs, recruited from hospitals in Isfahan through consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire, the DASS-21 scale (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21), and a spiritual well-being questionnaire developed by Parsian and Dunning. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 24). Results: The mean score for spiritual well-being was 87.79±17.04. Regarding the DASS-21 subscales, 32.8 of participants exhibited severe depression, 32 showed moderate anxiety, and 32.8 experienced extremely severe stress. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant negative correlation between spiritual well-being and depression (r=-0.428), anxiety (r=-0.369), and stress (r=-0.358) (P<0.001). Conclusion: The findings supported an inverse association between spiritual well-being and the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among family caregivers of individuals with SPMDs. It is recommended that strategies be implemented to enhance the spiritual well-being of family members to reduce their experiences of stress, anxiety, and depression. ©Sadra Medical Sciences Journal. This.