Care-related stress. A comparison of spouse and adult-child caregivers in shared and separate households.

This research examines the role that relationship and household arrangement have in explaining the levels of care-related stress effects experienced by spouse and adult-child caregivers in shared and separate residences. Data from 180 spouse and adult-child caregivers were analyzed to identify differences in caregiver health decline, relationship strain, and activity restriction across these settings when the effects of elder impairment, caregiver age, and use of social supports are controlled. Results show that spouse and adult children in shared households experience similar levels of care-related strain. However, comparison of adult children in shared and separate households show considerable cross-setting differences in strain, with those in shared households having significantly greater activity restriction but less relationship strain. These findings have implications for the delivery of social services, specifically for targeting health monitoring, respite, and family counseling services.