The Effects of Personal Religiosity and Spirituality on Informal Caregiving Activities

Abstract

With data from the 2012 Canadian General Social Survey on Caregiving and Care Receiving, this study measures how religion and spirituality impact a respondent’s informal caregiving activities. Building on existing psychology and health research regarding the use of religion as a coping method as well as on sociological research concerning the ties between religion and civic engagement, we find that respondents with higher levels of religiosity are more likely to be informal caregivers, especially for health and disability needs. In turn, religious caregivers are more likely to provide care to non-family members, provide more hours of care a week, provide care to a greater number of care receivers, and are more likely to use religion and spirituality as coping methods. We also find that both the dimensions of group and private religiosity have a role to play in these relationships.