Acceptance of family caregiving in the older adults: A validation of theory through a descriptive correlational study

Abstract

This descriptive correlational study on theory validation aimed at validating one of the propositions of the theory that states, “Family caregiving trajectory is influenced by factors such as resources” with a purposive sample of 304 family caregivers in Pampanga. To facilitate the validation of the proposition, the study aimed to determine the correlation between the older adults and family caregivers' characteristics with family caregiver burden using an instrument composed of the socio-demographic profile, Barthel Index (BI) of independence, caregiving self-efficacy scale, and Zarit burden interview scale. Caregiver burden was predicted by the identified older adults’ and caregivers’ characteristics by 28.1% with respect to the R square value of 0.281. Of all identified characteristics of the older adults and family caregivers, co-morbidity presence (p=.027; B=-3.641), lack of financial support (p=.009; B=5.539), decreasing level of independence (p=.000; B=-0.134) and low efficacy in the control of upsetting thoughts (p=.000; B=-2.359) were predictive of caregiver burden. The negative connotation related to aging and “everlasting caregiving” showed a relative interest in understanding caregiver burden experience. The resources, while infused on older adults’ and family caregivers’ characteristics showed a good prediction of older adults’ independence level, financial support and presence of co-morbidities, and family caregivers’ self-efficacy towards caregiver burden. Therefore, resources come from various forms, and they play an integral part in impacting a successful family caregiving trajectory.