title: Exploring spirituality in family caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors across the disease trajectory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the perceived level of spirituality in family caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors (PMBTs) changes across the disease trajectory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ongoing descriptive, longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Southwestern Pennsylvania.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 family caregivers of patients with PMBT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers and care recipients were recruited at time of diagnosis. Participants were interviewed at two subsequent time points, four and eight months following diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Care recipients' symptoms, neuropsychologic status, and physical function, as well as caregiver social support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed no significant difference in spirituality scores reported at baseline and eight months (p = 0.8), suggesting that spirituality may be a stable trait across the disease trajectory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spirituality remains relatively stable along the course of the disease trajectory. Reports of caregiver depressive symptoms and anxiety were lower when paired with higher reports of spirituality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians can better identify caregivers at risk for negative outcomes by identifying those who report lower levels of spirituality. Future interventions should focus on the development and implementation of interventions that provide protective buffers such as increased social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spirituality is a relatively stable trait. High levels of spirituality can serve as a protective buffer from negative mental health outcomes. Caregivers with low levels of spirituality may be at risk for greater levels of burden, anxiety, and stress.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. alyssagn@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alyssa G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Newberry
authors.forename: Chien-Wen Jean
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Heidi S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Given
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D055815:Young Adult