Investigation of the Effects and Mechanisms of Religious Involvement on
the Physical and Mental Health of African American Caregivers
Michael Sheridan, Ph.D.
The Catholic University of America
Proposal Summary: The overall aim of the proposed study is to investigate the relative contribution of religious involvement to physical and mental health among African-American caregivers. Specifically, the study will examine that relationship between several measures of involvement (religious attendance, level of engagement, organizational religious activities, non-organizational religious activities, intrinsic religiosity, and self-rated religiosity and spirituality) and indicators of physical and mental health. The research will also investigate the utility of the Spirituality-Stress-Adaptation Model of Caregiving by exploring the linkages between religious involvement, spiritual rewards of caregiving, and caregiving stress and adaptation variables. The proposed study addresses the overall goals of the RFP by contributing knowledge about the influence of religious involvement on individual health and exploring the psychosocial mechanisms underlying this influence.
