Relationship between methods of coping, social support and receipt of preventive care procedures by primary grandmother caregivers.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between receipt of preventive care procedures, social support and methods used by primary grandmother caregivers to cope with the demands of caregiving. A self-administered questionnaire comprised of items on preventive procedures and standardized measures of social support and methods of coping was used to collect data from a sample of 86 primary grandmother caregivers (56 ± 8 years). Results show that blood pressure check ups (94%) and general physical examination (89%) were the preventive care procedures received by most participants. The average adherence score for the nine preventive care procedures was 6.60 ± 2.10 and 50% of the participants had received each of the nine preventive care procedures considered by this study. Significant relationships were found between avoidance coping and receiving a general physical examination and eye or vision examination; between coping by minimizing the situation and receiving eye or vision examination; and between active coping and receiving a cholesterol check. Subjective and instrumental social supports were both significantly associated with receiving a gynecological examination or Pap smear and blood pressure check up. In conclusion, findings of this study show that primary grandmother caregivers have a high propensity towards preventive care. However healthcare providers providing preventive care to primary grandmother caregivers and other informal caregivers should assess the social supports and methods of coping used to cope with the demands of caregiving because both affect receipt of preventive care.