Abstract
Looking after a person with a mental illness takes a profound toll on the caregiver (Spurlock, 2005; Suro & Weisman de Mamani, 2013). Pinpointing beliefs and practices that can ameliorate this distress is critical. Inferring from related literatures, we propose that individuals who are more religious and endorse greater perceptions of free will may adapt more effectively to the stresses associated with caregiving. Implications from this review suggest that promoting adaptive religious beliefs and fostering the notion of free will may serve as beneficial strategies for caregivers of individuals with dementia. More empirical research on this topic is clearly warranted.
