The Psychological and Spiritual Experiences of Christian Caregivers of Physically or Mentally Disabled Family Members

This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of Christian caregivers caring for mentally or physically ill family members. This qualitative phenomenological study described the psychological and spiritual influence of caring for mentally or physically ill family members. The first question that the researcher attempted to answer was: What lived experiences do family caregivers experience when caring for loved ones with physical or mental disabilities? The second question that was explored was: How does caring for loved ones influence Christian family caretakers' spiritual well-being. The third question explored how caring for loved ones influences Christian family caretakers' psychological or mental well-being. The theories that guided this research were the resilience theory (RT) and the Big Five personality traits (BFPT). Numerous studies have covered family caregivers in countries outside of the United States and professionals that are caregivers; however, there have been limited studies on Christian caregivers' psychological and spiritual experiences within the United States. The participants’ experiences were shared using open-ended questions, a focus group, journal prompts, and semi-structured interviews using web conferences, in which the discussions were audio-recorded only to protect the confidentiality of the participants. The sample population consisted of 10 African-American, Christian family caregivers aged 40–65 years residing in the United States. The researcher was responsible for identifying the research, analyzing the results, and interpreting the data. The findings showed that family caregivers could positively cope with their caregiver responsibilities when religiosity was present among the caregiver and the individual receiving care.