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Bereavement life review improves spiritual well-being and ameliorates depression among American caregivers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2014

Michiyo Ando ,
Felicia Marquez-Wong ,
Gary B. Simon ,
Haruko Kira  and
Carl Becker
Michiyo Ando*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, St. Mary's College, Fukuoka, Japan
Felicia Marquez-Wong
Affiliation:
St. Francis Hospice, Honolulu, Hawaii
Gary B. Simon
Affiliation:
St. Francis Hospice, Honolulu, Hawaii
Haruko Kira
Affiliation:
Graduate School, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
Carl Becker
Affiliation:
Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Michiyo Ando, St. Mary's College, Tsubuku Honmachi 422, Kurume City, Fukuoka, Japan. E-mail: andou@st-mary.ac.jp
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Abstract

Objective:

The aim of our study was to investigate the utility of bereavement life review (BLR) to elevate spiritual well-being and alleviate depression among Hawaiian-American caregivers, and to identify changes that occur when caring for their loved ones up to the time of death.

Method:

Bereavement life review therapy was provided for 20 bereaved Hawaiian Americans. In the first session, subjects reviewed memories of the deceased with a therapist, who recorded their narratives and collected them into a personal history book. During the second session, subjects discussed the contents of this book. Caregivers completed the Functional Assessment Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual (FACIT–Sp) questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-II) pre- and post-intervention. Subjects also described changes in their views that occurred during the caring process in response to questions.

Results:

FACIT–Sp scores significantly increased from 34.1 ± 9.63 to 36.3 ± 10.6 (t = –2.6, p < 0.05, and BDI scores significantly decreased from 11.7 ± 7.7 to 8.8 ± 7.0 (t = 2.27, p < 0.05). Five categories were chosen from the narratives on changes that had occurred during caregiving and due to the deceased death: “Learning from practical caring experience,” “Positive understanding of patients,” “Recognition of appreciation,” “Self-change or growth,” and “Obtaining a philosophy.”

Significance of Results:

These findings show the applicability of bereavement life review therapy for Hawaiian families, including efficacy for spiritual well-being and depression. The comments of the caregivers also indicate the potential of the therapy for identifying the positive aspects of caring for terminally ill patients.

Keywords

Bereavement life review (BLR)Spiritual well-beingDepression
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , April 2015 , pp. 319 - 325
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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