African Americans, Caregiving, and Physical Health Ratings: Does Culture, Religion and Spirituality Provide Support?

Abstract

Caregiving can be both distressing and physically demanding, especially among African Americans. This study uses data from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) to examine the relationship between religion and spirituality experiences on health ratings among African American caregivers. Logistic regression analyses were performed on a sample including 4461 African American and white participants. All analyses were weighted and used STATA 14. African American participants who endorsed religiosity (OR 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06, 1.97) and white participants who endorsed religiosity (OR 2.40, CI 1.07, 5.40) recorded higher ratings of physical health than those who did not endorse being religious. Maintaining family closeness for African Americans is significantly associated with higher ratings of physical health (OR 2.02, CI 1.39, 2.94). Overall, the findings underscore how maintaining a religious or spiritual lens can enhance health outcomes among African Americans caregivers who need support.