Object: To clarify the emotional and instrumental support influencing male
caregivers for people with dementia living at home.Patients/Materials and Methods: The subjects were 298 male caregivers.
Nursing care burden was assessed using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. Ability to cope
with care problems was assessed using the Nursing Care Problems Coping Scale for Male
Caregivers for People with Dementia Living at Home (NCSM). Emotional support was assessed
using the Emotional Support Network Scale. Instrumental support was assessed using the
question “Do you have someone to help when you have a problem with nursing care?”.Results: There was a significant correlation (P < 0.04) between the point
(index) of NCSM and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. A positive significant correlation was
found in three coping styles. A negative significant correlation was found in one coping
style, and no significant correlation in one coping style. The ‘Solve the problem’ coping
style was linked to support from both within and beyond the family. Both ‘Emotional
avoidance’ and ‘Cognitive transformation’ coping styles were linked to support from within
the family, and “Request assistance” style only to external support. There were no
correlations between the source of support and the “Careful supervision and waiting”
coping style.Conclusion: Emotional and instrumental support for male caregivers was more
than three times more likely to be obtained from within the family than outside it. With
families becoming smaller, it is becoming more important for communities and society in
general to provide emotional and instrumental support for male caregivers. Male caregivers
need support from someone with whom they feel comfortable. It is particularly necessary to
consider how to support male caregivers who use the “Emotional avoidance” coping
style.
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