Quality of the caregiver–care recipient relationship: Does it offset negative consequences of caregiving for family caregivers?

Abstract

This study examined whether relationship quality mediates, moderates, or both mediates and moderates the associations between caregiving stressors (e.g., disability and behavioral problems) and negative consequences associated with caregiver well-being (overload, role captivity, and depression). Data on family (spouses and children) caregivers (n = 118) came from a longitudinal study of a representative sample of disabled older people and their primary caregivers. Relationship quality mediated the linkages between the presence of problem behaviors and the outcomes of role captivity and depression. That is, when problem behaviors were present, they related to higher levels of captivity and depression because quality of the relationship suffered. Relationship quality moderated the linkage between disability and overload. Specifically, for those with a higher quality of relationship, increased disability was related to higher levels of perceived overload.

Correlations among Coping Skills and Life Satisfaction in Ethnic Older Caregivers

“…When problem behaviors occur, the relationship between the caregiver and the carerecipient suffers, which may lead the caregiver to experience elevated levels of depression and a decreased experience of life satisfaction (Lawrence, et al, 1998). The relationship may also serve as a moderator in this interaction.…”

“…According to the Stress-Process Model, one factor that has a buffering effect on life satisfaction is the relationship the caregiver shares with the care recipient (Lawrence, et al, 1998). The quality of the relationship can mediate the effect problem behaviors have on the caregiver's levels of depression and life satisfaction (Lawrence, et al, 1998).…”

“…The quality of the relationship can mediate the effect problem behaviors have on the caregiver's levels of depression and life satisfaction (Lawrence, et al, 1998).…”

“…The relationship may also serve as a moderator in this interaction. When the quality of the relationship was high, caregivers experienced higher levels of distress when the care receiver deteriorated and functional ability declined (Lawrence, et al, 1998). Haley, et al, (2003) applied the Stress-Process Model in a study that examined risk factors and protective factors in caregivers and how these factors predicted depression and life satisfaction.…”

“…The influences of psychological and sociocultural factors on the coping skills that caregivers employ has been explored (Campbell, Converse, & Rodgers, 1976;Chakrabarti & Gill, 2002;Hooker, Frazier, & Monahan, 1994;Lewinsohn, Redner, & Seeley, 1991;Shimazu, Shimazu, & Odara, 2005). More specifically, the role of personality (Chakrabarti, et al, 2002;Hooker, et al, 1994;Hooker, Monahan, Bowman, Frazier, & Shifren, 1998;Lewinsohn, et al, 1991), culture (Caspi & Elder, 1986;Greer & Brown, 2011;Greer & Chwalisz, 2007;Outten, et al, 2009;Utsey, Ponterotto, Reynolds, & Cancelli, 2000), relationship with care-recipient (Lawrence, Tennstedt, & Assman, 1998;McClendon, Smyth, & Neundorfer, 2004;Quayhagen & Quayhagen, 1988), economic status (Borg & Hallberg, 2006;Jang, Chiriboga, Kim, & Phillips, 2008;Rice, Near & Hunt, 1980), role strain (Barusch & Spaid, 1991;Bonebright, Clay, & Ankenmann, 2000;Choo, Low, Karina, Poi, Ebenezer, & Prince, 2003;Collins & Jones, 1997), as well as occupational stress (Bonebright, Clay, & Ankenmann, 2000;Gueritalt-Chalvin, Kalichman, Demi, & Peterson, 2000), and gender (Collins, et al, 1997;Kristensson Ekwall & Rahm Hallberg, 2006) have all been shown to increase the experience of stress (Collins, et al, 1997;Gueritalt-Chalvin, et al, 2000;Hooker, et al, 1998), decrease life satisfaction (Arango-Lasprilla, Olivera Plaza, Drew, Perdomo Romero, Arango Pizarro, Francis, & Kreut...…”