Exploring the role of spirituality and the meaning of life of family caregivers: a qualitative study in Germany
Abstract Background Family caregivers suffer from multiple strains, e.g., social isolation or lack of leisure time, which has a negative impact on their health, well-being, and quality of life. Spirituality may support in coping with the family caregivers’ burdens. There is currently a lack of studi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | BMC Nursing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03398-x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849420520056946688 |
|---|---|
| author | Jenny Kubitza Verena Steinmaier Natascha Lauer Anna Pendergrass Eckhard Frick |
| author_facet | Jenny Kubitza Verena Steinmaier Natascha Lauer Anna Pendergrass Eckhard Frick |
| author_sort | Jenny Kubitza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Family caregivers suffer from multiple strains, e.g., social isolation or lack of leisure time, which has a negative impact on their health, well-being, and quality of life. Spirituality may support in coping with the family caregivers’ burdens. There is currently a lack of studies examining how family caregivers experience the meaning of life and how spirituality helps them to cope. More research is needed to provide quality care to people in need of care and their family caregivers. Methods The study has an exploratory-descriptive qualitative research design based on semi-structured interviews conducted with 24 family caregivers in Bavaria, Germany. The data generated were transcribed verbatim, and a content analysis approach was used for data reduction, obtaining analytical code, and determining categories. Results Caring for a relative often leads to changes in the lives of family caregivers, which can affect their experience of meaning. The experience of meaning includes four dimensions: (1) values, (2) aspects before caregiving (past), (3) current situation (present), and (4) expectations after caregiving (future). The experience of meaning goes beyond the current care situation, family caregivers rather clarify what defines their life and how care becomes part of this life. If family caregivers experience meaning in their lives, it helps them to accept their care role, develop a better connection to themselves, and become generally more aware of themselves as individuals with needs and requirements. Three forms of spirituality help family caregivers to experience meaning in life: reflection, awareness, and inner confidence. Conclusion Regardless of the illness and the specific care needs of the relative, clarifying the meaning of one’s own life is essential to accepting the role of the caregiver and coping with it positively over a long period. Many family caregivers benefit from professional support in this reflective and dynamic process. Clinical trial number N/A. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-804bc0f921974fe0a3f4594ec4684ede |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-804bc0f921974fe0a3f4594ec4684ede2025-08-20T03:31:44ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-06-0124111410.1186/s12912-025-03398-xExploring the role of spirituality and the meaning of life of family caregivers: a qualitative study in GermanyJenny Kubitza0Verena Steinmaier1Natascha Lauer2Anna Pendergrass3Eckhard Frick4TUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Spiritual Care and Psychosomatic Health, Technical University of Munich, TUM University HospitalTUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Spiritual Care and Psychosomatic Health, Technical University of Munich, TUM University HospitalCentre for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)Centre for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)TUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Spiritual Care and Psychosomatic Health, Technical University of Munich, TUM University HospitalAbstract Background Family caregivers suffer from multiple strains, e.g., social isolation or lack of leisure time, which has a negative impact on their health, well-being, and quality of life. Spirituality may support in coping with the family caregivers’ burdens. There is currently a lack of studies examining how family caregivers experience the meaning of life and how spirituality helps them to cope. More research is needed to provide quality care to people in need of care and their family caregivers. Methods The study has an exploratory-descriptive qualitative research design based on semi-structured interviews conducted with 24 family caregivers in Bavaria, Germany. The data generated were transcribed verbatim, and a content analysis approach was used for data reduction, obtaining analytical code, and determining categories. Results Caring for a relative often leads to changes in the lives of family caregivers, which can affect their experience of meaning. The experience of meaning includes four dimensions: (1) values, (2) aspects before caregiving (past), (3) current situation (present), and (4) expectations after caregiving (future). The experience of meaning goes beyond the current care situation, family caregivers rather clarify what defines their life and how care becomes part of this life. If family caregivers experience meaning in their lives, it helps them to accept their care role, develop a better connection to themselves, and become generally more aware of themselves as individuals with needs and requirements. Three forms of spirituality help family caregivers to experience meaning in life: reflection, awareness, and inner confidence. Conclusion Regardless of the illness and the specific care needs of the relative, clarifying the meaning of one’s own life is essential to accepting the role of the caregiver and coping with it positively over a long period. Many family caregivers benefit from professional support in this reflective and dynamic process. Clinical trial number N/A.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03398-xCaregiving needsFamily caregiverInformal caregivingSpiritualityQualitative study |
| spellingShingle | Jenny Kubitza Verena Steinmaier Natascha Lauer Anna Pendergrass Eckhard Frick Exploring the role of spirituality and the meaning of life of family caregivers: a qualitative study in Germany BMC Nursing Caregiving needs Family caregiver Informal caregiving Spirituality Qualitative study |
| title | Exploring the role of spirituality and the meaning of life of family caregivers: a qualitative study in Germany |
| title_full | Exploring the role of spirituality and the meaning of life of family caregivers: a qualitative study in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the role of spirituality and the meaning of life of family caregivers: a qualitative study in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the role of spirituality and the meaning of life of family caregivers: a qualitative study in Germany |
| title_short | Exploring the role of spirituality and the meaning of life of family caregivers: a qualitative study in Germany |
| title_sort | exploring the role of spirituality and the meaning of life of family caregivers a qualitative study in germany |
| topic | Caregiving needs Family caregiver Informal caregiving Spirituality Qualitative study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03398-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jennykubitza exploringtheroleofspiritualityandthemeaningoflifeoffamilycaregiversaqualitativestudyingermany AT verenasteinmaier exploringtheroleofspiritualityandthemeaningoflifeoffamilycaregiversaqualitativestudyingermany AT nataschalauer exploringtheroleofspiritualityandthemeaningoflifeoffamilycaregiversaqualitativestudyingermany AT annapendergrass exploringtheroleofspiritualityandthemeaningoflifeoffamilycaregiversaqualitativestudyingermany AT eckhardfrick exploringtheroleofspiritualityandthemeaningoflifeoffamilycaregiversaqualitativestudyingermany |