title: Religiosity and quality of life: a dyadic perspective of individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dyadic coping theory purports the benefit of joint coping strategies within a couple, or dyad, when one dyad member is faced with illness or stress. We examine the effect of religiosity on well-being for individuals with dementia (IWDs). In particular, we look at the effect of both dyad members' religiosity on perceptions of IWDs' quality of life (QoL). Neither of these issues has been extensively explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eleven individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia and their family caregivers were interviewed to evaluate IWDs' everyday-care values and preferences, including religious preferences. Using an actor-partner multi-level model to account for the interdependent relationship of dyads, we examined how IWD and caregiver ratings of religiosity (attendance, prayer, and subjective ratings of religiosity) influence perceptions of IWDs' QoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After accounting for care-related stress, one's own religiosity is not significantly related to IWDs' or caregivers' perceptions of IWD QoL. However, when modeling both actor and partner effects of religiosity on perceptions of IWDs' QoL, caregivers' religiosity is positively related to IWDs' self-reports of QoL, and IWDs' religiosity is negatively associated with caregivers' perceptions of IWDs' QoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that religiosity of both the caregiver and the IWD affect perception of the IWD's QoL. It is important that caregivers understand IWDs' values concerning religion as it may serve as a coping mechanism for dealing with dementia.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Development and Family Studies , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagpal
authors.forename: Allison R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Heid
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Zarit
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Whitlatch
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology
keywords: care preferences; caregiving; dementia; religiosity