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The Effect of Religious Coping on Caregiving Appraisals of Mothers of Adults With Developmental Disabilities

^a Department of Social Work and Gerontology, Shippensburg University, PA
^b Center for Work and Family, Boston College, Newton, MA

Correspondence: Helen B. Miltiades, PhD, Department of Social Work and Gerontology, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299. E-mail: HBMilt{at}wharf.ship.edu.

Decision Editor: Laurence G. Branch, PhD

Purpose: This article explores the association between race and religious coping on caregiving appraisals for mothers who coreside with an adult child with mental retardation. Design and Methods: 71 Black and 71 White women (aged 50 or older) were matched on demographic characteristics to control for the association between race and socioeconomic status. Structural equation analysis was used to examine the relationship between race, religious coping, and caregiving appraisals. Results: Black women were more likely to use religious coping. Religious coping was associated with higher levels of caregiving satisfaction, but not with burden. Blacks experienced higher levels of caregiving satisfaction. Blacks also experienced higher levels of caregiving burden due to their poor health. Implications: The needs of Blacks should be considered when developing "best practices" in service provision. Culturally sensitive outreach approaches should not ignore the importance of faith and faith-based organizations in the lives of Blacks.

Key Words: Race • Caregiving burden • Caregiving satisfaction

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