“Self-Employed” in Caregivinghood: The Contribution of Swedish Informal Caregivers’ Environmental and Contextual Resistance Resources and Deficits

Abstract

Abstract:Informal caregivers provide the majority of care for older adults residing in their own homes. Caregivinghood, a new evidence-based concept, describes a time of life when relatives provide care at home. These caregivers need knowledge regarding resources to help them resolve the challenges they encounter. The theoretical framework underpinning this study is Antonovsky's salutogenic theory of health. This study had two aims: (1) to examine the salutogenic core concepts Generalized and Specific Resistance Resources and Deficits (GRRs/SRRs and GRDs/SRDs) described by Swedish informal caregivers as originating from the environmental and contextual domain of caregivinghood and (2) to discuss how this new knowledge might contribute to the development of health promotion initiatives. This qualitative and theory driven study used inductive and deductive data analysis. Data were gathered through salutogenically guided face-to-face interviews of 32 Swedish informal caregivers. In addition, the study relied on the salutogenic core concepts Specific and Generalized Resistance Resources and Deficits originating from their environment and context. Being in empowering surroundings reflects the presence of usable SRRs/GRRs, whereas Struggling in impeding surroundings reflects the presence of SRDs/GRDs. The results indicate that health-enhancing support has to be individualized (SRRs/SRDs) and generalized (GRRs/GRDs). This study's salutogenic approach and the methodology enhance the understanding of the mechanisms behind the development of Sense of Coherence. The results contribute both empirically and theoretically to strengthen health promotion research and practice when developing activities and support for caregivers in stressful situations, such as informal caregiving.

Specific Resistance Resources in the Salutogenic Model of Health

“…For dyads in assisted living facilities, the facility-an SRRenabled caregivers to gain/regain personal SRRs that had been problematic in their homes (SRR deficits). Examples cited by respondents included shopping facilities in the living complex, elevators, and apartments that were disability adapted (Eriksson et al, 2017).…”

Support for Informal Carers: Has the New Benefit Improved Their Ability to Care?

“…However, it can be observed from a number of individual research projects that the investigated areas of the lives of informal carers usually include mental and emotional support (e.g., Jansen et al, 2019), as well as legislative support and configuration of social policy, whether this concerns support in the form of benefits, or the importance of ancillary social services (e.g., Brémault-Phillips et al, 2016;Zhong et al, 2020). Eriksson et al (2017) came to the conclusion that support of informal care must be provided on two levels. On a general level, i.e., intended for a broad group of individuals providing care, and also on a highly individualised level, because every case of provided informal care is unique and faces different issues.…”

“…The researchers examined the network of supportive services, psychotherapeutic services, community support (Eriksson et al, 2017) and individualised care in the field of individual support (Schaepe and Ewers, 2018). Informal caring is an example of an intersection point between obligatory and natural solidarity and has a considerable impact on the quality of life of the carers themselves, the person being cared for and the people around them.…”

Informal care and the impact on depression and anxiety among Swedish adults: a population-based cohort study

“…While the most common reason of informal caregiving is long-lasting illness or disability in older family members, such as dementia, it can also lead to illness in the caregiver her- or himself [ 10 , 11 ]. Even though studies have reported on positive outcomes of informal caregiving such as an increased positive appraise and occasionally a better well-being [ 7 , 12 ], informal caregiving has mainly been associated with worse physical and mental health, such as depression, anxiety and burn-out [ 2 , 8 , 13 – 18 ].…”