|
|
||||||||
CAREGIVING |
a Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
b Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
Correspondence: Neena L. Chappell, PhD, Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, Sedgewick Building, A Wing Room 104, P.O. Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada. E-mail: nlc{at}uvic.ca.
Decision Editor: Laurence G. Branch, PhD
Purpose: This study assessed overall quality of life of caregivers, using a path model in which burden was conceptualized as distinct from well-being. Design and Methods: Data were drawn from a representative sample of caregivers to dementia and nondementia care receivers in British Columbia, Canada (N = 243). The model used was based on a previously proposed stress/appraisal path model and used multiple regression path estimates. Primary stressors were care receiver cognitive status, physical function, and behavioral problems; the primary appraisal variable was hours of caregiving during the previous week. Mediators were perceived social support, frequency of getting a break, and hours of formal service use; secondary appraisal was subjective burden. The outcome measure was generalized well-being. Results:Well-being was directly affected by four variables: perceived social support, burden, self-esteem, and hours of informal care. Burden was affected directly by behavioral problems, frequency of getting a break, self-esteem, and informal hours of care and was not affected by perceived social support. Discussion: The finding that perceived social support is strongly related to well-being but unrelated to burden reinforces the conceptual distinctiveness of the latter two concepts. This suggests that quality of life of caregivers could be improved even with burden in their lives and that the overwhelming focus in caregiving research on burden should be supplemented with an emphasis on quality of life.
Key Words: Well-being Quality of life Burden Path analysis
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
E. Iecovich Caregiving Burden, Community Services, and Quality of Life of Primary Caregivers of Frail Elderly Persons Journal of Applied Gerontology, June 1, 2008; 27(3): 309 - 330. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
|
M. Pinquart and S. Sorensen Correlates of Physical Health of Informal Caregivers: A Meta-Analysis J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2007; 62(2): P126 - P137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
P. M. S. Antonio, J. K. Eckert, and L. Simon-Rusinowitz The Importance of Relationship: Elders and Their Paid Family Caregivers in the Arkansas Cash and Counseling Qualitative Study Journal of Applied Gerontology, February 1, 2006; 25(1): 31 - 48. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
|
S. E. Jarrott, S. H. Zarit, M. A. P. Stephens, A. Townsend, and R. Greene Instrumental help and caregivers' distress: Effects of change in informal and formal help American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, May 1, 2005; 20(3): 181 - 190. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
|
M. E. Szinovacz and A. Davey Retirement Transitions and Spouse Disability: Effects on Depressive Symptoms J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2004; 59(6): S333 - S342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
L. Pekkarinen, T. Sinervo, M.-L. Perala, and M. Elovainio Work Stressors and the Quality of Life in Long-Term Care Units Gerontologist, October 1, 2004; 44(5): 633 - 643. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
---|
All GSA journals | Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences | Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences |