Alison Pattison1, Elissa Torres2, Lori Wieters3, Jennifer G Waldschmidt4. 1. Associate Adjunct Professor and Senior Doctoral Adjunct Chair, The College of Doctoral Studies, Grand Canyon University, USA. 2. Assistant Professor, Grand Canyon University, USA. 3. Industrial/Organisational Psychologist, Grand Canyon University, USA. 4. Dissertation Program Chair, The College of Doctoral Studies, Grand Canyon University, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As the United States' population ages and health concerns rise, the family caregiver occupation will continue to be an integral part of the health care system. AIMS: It is important to examine the burden that family caregivers experience so they can seek out additional training and services to maintain their own well-being. The researchers examined caregiver burden from a perspective of developmentally disabled and long-term care. METHODS: The researchers examined difference in Zarit scores, guilt, burden and personal strain for 72 caregivers of people with developmental disability (DD) or people with long-term care (LTC) needs. The researchers also examined differences in these based on whether the individual was caregiving for family or "others". RESULTS: For DD, there were significant differences in Zarit, role strain and personal strain; caring for others has significantly lower scores on these. Role strain was significantly higher than personal strain, which was significantly higher than guilt for both LTC and DD groups. CONCLUSIONS: Given these findings, it is important to support family caregivers first and foremost with role strain, especially for those caring for family members with DD. This support could be given through personal counselling, caregiver training, non-profit social service resources, and support groups for family caregivers.
BACKGROUND: As the United States' population ages and health concerns rise, the family caregiver occupation will continue to be an integral part of the health care system. AIMS: It is important to examine the burden that family caregivers experience so they can seek out additional training and services to maintain their own well-being. The researchers examined caregiver burden from a perspective of developmentally disabled and long-term care. METHODS: The researchers examined difference in Zarit scores, guilt, burden and personal strain for 72 caregivers of people with developmental disability (DD) or people with long-term care (LTC) needs. The researchers also examined differences in these based on whether the individual was caregiving for family or "others". RESULTS: For DD, there were significant differences in Zarit, role strain and personal strain; caring for others has significantly lower scores on these. Role strain was significantly higher than personal strain, which was significantly higher than guilt for both LTC and DD groups. CONCLUSIONS: Given these findings, it is important to support family caregivers first and foremost with role strain, especially for those caring for family members with DD. This support could be given through personal counselling, caregiver training, non-profit social service resources, and support groups for family caregivers.
Keywords:
caregiver burden; caregiver training; caregivers; developmental disability; family caregiving; guilt; long-term care; personal strain; role strain; training
Authors: Carol Levine; Gail Gibson Hunt; Deborah Halper; Andrea Y Hart; Jessica Lautz; David A Gould Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2005-09-29 Impact factor: 9.308