RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOPE AND SPIRITUALITY OF ELDERLY CAREGIVERS

this is a correlational, cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 301 elderly caregivers, enrolled in Family Health Units. The instruments used in data collection were the Herth Hope Scale and the Pinto and Pais-Ribeiro Spirituality Scale.

Results:

data indicate low positive correlation between the hope scale and the “belief” domain (r=0.174) and positive and strong correlation between the hope scale and the “hope/optimism” domain (r=0.615) of the spirituality scale, with statistical significance (p<0.01).

Conclusion:

the relationship between the level of hope and spirituality occurred, thus, important positive factors for the elderly caregivers in the face of the care activity can be considered.

DESCRIPTORS:
Hope; Spirituality; Elderly; Caregivers; Gerontology

Variable	n	%
Sex
Female	227	75.5
Male	74	24.5
Age
60 to 69 years	171	56.8
70 to 79 years	94	31.2
80 years or more	36	12.0
Marital status
With a partner	270	89.7
With no partner	31	10.3
Education
Illiterate	60	20.0
1 to 4 years	179	59.4
5 to 8 years	32	10.6
9 years or more	30	10.0
Caregiver income
More than 1 MW^* * MW= Minimum wage (considered R$ 724.00 for the first half of 2014 in Brazil).	88	29.2
Up to MW	140	46.6
No income	64	21.2
No information	9	3.0
Religion
Catholic	189	62.7
Evangelical	72	24.0
Other	33	11.0
No religion	7	2.3
Religious practice
Practitioner	233	77.5
Non-practitioner	68	22.5
Takes care of
Spouse	254	84.3
Father/mother	24	8.0
Father/mother-in-law	7	2.3
Brother/sister	11	3.7
Other	5	1.7
Time of care (years)
More than 5 years	128	42.6
From 1 to 5 years	103	34.2
Up to 1 year	61	20.2
No information	9	3.0
Time of care (per day)
Up to 5 hours	192	63.7
From 6 to 10 hours	53	17.7
More than 10 hours	48	16.0
No information	8	2.6

HHS items	Mean	SD^* * SD=Standard deviation	Median	Obtained variation	Possible variation
1. I am optimistic about life	3.39	0.87	4	1 - 4	1 - 4
2. I have short and long term plans	2.58	1.20	3	1 - 4	1 - 4
3. I fell alone	3.29	1.03	4	1 - 4	1 - 4
4. I can see possibilities amidst difficulties	3.40	0.78	4	1 - 4	1 - 4
5. My faith comforts me	3.87	0.48	4	3 - 4	1 - 4
6. I am afraid of the future	3.16	1.09	4	1 - 4	1 - 4
7. I can remember happy times	3.43	0.92	4	1 - 4	1 - 4
8. I feel strong	3.32	0.88	4	1 - 4	1 - 4
9. I feel capable of giving and receiving affection/love	3.66	0.68	4	2 - 4	1 - 4
10. I know where I want to go	3.32	0.91	4	1 - 4	1 - 4
11. I believe in the value of each day	3.68	0.60	4	1 - 4	1 - 4
12. I feel that my life has value and utility	3.72	0.55	4	2 - 4	1 - 4
Total HHS	40.9	5.45	42	22 - 48	12 - 48

PP-RSS items	Mean	SD^* * SD=Standard deviation	Median	Obtained variation	Possible variation
1. My spiritual/religious beliefs give meaning to my life	3.83	0.50	4	2 - 4	1-5
2. My faith and beliefs give me strength in times of trouble	3.87	0.31	4	1 - 4	1-5
3. I see the future with hope	3.22	1.06	4	1 - 4	1-5
4. I feel that my life has changed for the better	3.24	1.14	4	1 - 4	1-5
5. I learned to value the little things of life	3.72	0.51	4	2 - 4	1-5
Overall PP-RSS	17.90	2.47	19	6 - 20	5 - 20

Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pós Graduação em Enfermagem Campus Universitário Trindade, 88040-970 Florianópolis - Santa Catarina - Brasil, Tel.: (55 48) 3721-4915 / (55 48) 3721-9043 - Florianópolis - SC - Brazil
E-mail: textoecontexto@contato.ufsc.br

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[1] Correspondence: Sofia Cristina Iost Pavarini. Departamento de Gerontologia - Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235, s/n - Jardim Guanabara - 13565-905, Brazil. E-mail: sofiapavarini@gmail.com