RELIGIOSITY AND PERCEIVED REWARDS OF BLACK-AND-WHITE CAREGIVERS

Using data from a larger study of caregivers of the elderly, this stud y explores the extent to wh ich religiosity variables function as medi ators of the effects of situational/demographic factors on perceived c aregiver rewards. In the parent project, random digit dialing was used to select 136 Black and 255 White caregivers of community-dwelling el ders for face-to-face interviews. Regression analyses revealed that Bl ack caregivers perceived higher levels of rewards than Whites and the relationship between race and perceived rewards was mediated by comfor t from religion and prayer. Blacks and Whites with more eduction repor ted fewer perceived rewards than caregivers with less education.