Spirituality May Have Protective Effect on QOL for Stroke Survivors

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — High spirituality among stroke survivors may moderate the association between care partner depressive symptomatology and quality of life (QOL) for survivors and their care partners, according to a study published online May 26 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Gianluca Pucciarelli, Ph.D., from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and colleagues examined the moderating role of spirituality on the association between depressive symptomatology and QOL in 223 stroke survivor-care partner dyads. Data were collected over 12 months; survivors’ and care partners’ depression, quality of life, and spirituality were measured.

The researchers found that the association between care partner depressive symptomatology and survivor psychological QOL was moderated significantly by survivors’ spirituality; in addition, the association between care partner depressive symptoms and care partner physical and psychological QOL was moderated by survivors’ spirituality. There was a significant positive association seen for a care partner’s own level of spirituality with their physical QOL.

“Greater awareness of the importance of spirituality among clinicians and nurses may improve cultural competence in healthcare services and community support in addressing survivor spirituality and strengthen collaborative relationships between healthcare and faith-based organizations to benefit the health of both survivors and their care partners,” the authors write.

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