The Gerontologist, Vol 39, Issue 5 534-545, Copyright © 1999 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Relationship between caregiver burden and health-related quality of life

SL Hughes, A Giobbie-Hurder, FM Weaver, JD Kubal and W Henderson
Center for Cooperative Studies in Health Services, Edward A. Hines, Jr., Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, IL 60607, USA. [email protected]

This study tested the cross-sectional relationship between caregiver burden and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among 1,594 caregivers of veterans identified to qualify for formal home care. A two-stage model found that familial relationship, coresidence, and low income predicted objective burden. Coresidence also predicted subjective burden, whereas being African American was protective. In the full model, spousal relationship, low income, and burden were associated with poor HRQOL scores. Total variance explained in HRQOL ranged from 14% to 29%, with objective burden contributing more than subjective burden. These findings suggest a direct effect of objective burden on caregiver HRQOL, indicating a need among caregivers for assistance in caring for disabled family members.

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