Religiosity and Perceived Rewards of Black and White Caregivers

Using data from a larger study of caregivers of the elderly, this study explores the extent to which religiosity variables function as mediators of the effects of situational/demographic factors on perceived caregiver rewards. In the parent project, random digit dialing was used to select 136 Black and 255 White caregivers of community-dwelling elders for face-to-face interviews. Regression analyses revealed that Black caregivers perceived higher levels of rewards than Whites and the relationship between race and perceived rewards was mediated by comfort from religion and prayer. Blacks and Whites with more education reported fewer perceived rewards than caregivers with less education.