Support Systems and Stress Reduction among Workers Caring for Dependent Parents

This study investigated the impact of three types of support--from family and friends, the workplace, and community services agencies--on the perceived stress and health outcomes of 133 employed caregivers of defendent parents. The stressor-support-stress-reaction model guided the research. Support from family and friends and community agencies was found to buffer the negative impact of caregiving and work and family role strain, and a supportive work environment was one predictor of lessened phisical strain. Most families in the United States can expect to care for their frail elderly parents and work at the same time, according to the American Association of Retired Persons (1989), which reported that 55 percent of all caregivers to the elderly population are employed. These employed caregivers include executives as well as laborers (Fortune Magazine & John Hancock Financial Services, 1989) and are relatively young--many begin caregiving in their late thirties and early forties (Creedon, 1987; Northeast Utilities System, 1987; Travelers Insurance Company, 1985). Employed caregivers report more stress (health, family, and work) than do employees with no dependent care responsibilities (Creedon, 1987; Neal, Chapman, Ingersoll-Dayton, Emlen, & Boise, 1990; Scharlach & Boyd, 1989). In response to this stress, 9 to 22 percent of the caregivers quit their jobs (Brody, Kleban, Johnsen, Hoffman, & Schoonover, 1987; Petty & Friss, 1987; Stone, Cafferata, & Sangl, 1987). Others reduced or were thinking about reducing their caregiving activities (Brody et al., 1987; Northeast Utilities System, 1987; Travelers Insurance Company, 1985). This article presents the findings of a study of the formal and informal support systems used by 133 male and female employees who care for frail parents. The questions examined are as follows: Will support from family and friends, the workplace, and community services agencies lessen the negative consequences of combining work and caregiving? Do the three support systems differentially affect the outcomes of stress? The stressor-support-stress-reaction paradigm guided the research. This model predicts that stressful life events contribute to the mental and physical disease process (Pearlin, 1989; Selye, 1982) and that outcomes of illnesses are less severe when support systems are in place (Cohen & Syme, 1985; House, 1981). A stressor is defined as a life event that requires changes and adjustments in an individual's daily life. The stressors examined in this study were the parents' level of physical and mental limitations and the respondents' level of involvement in caregiving. Support is defined as the total level of assistance (informational, emotional, and concrete help) received from an individual, group, or agency that helps the individual deal with the stressful life event. Stress reactions include health outcomes and perceived stress. Health outcomes are unwanted changes in physical and mental health that may be long lasting and costly--financially, personally, and socially. Perceived stress consists of feelings of emotional, financial, relationship, and work-family strains that may contribute to unwanted changes in physical and mental health (Schultz, 1990). Thus, perceived stress is both a dependent and an independent variable. There are no known studies of the impact of support resources on the well-being of employed caregivers. However, general studies of caregivers to the elderly population uncovered several relevant patterns. First, in regard to stressors, the objective burden of caregiving (the patient's level of disability, for example) is less predictive of strain experienced by a caregiver than are subjective factors, such as the availability of support and the perceived burden of caregiving (George & Gwyther, 1986; Horowitz, 1985; Schultz, 1990; Zarit, Reever, & Bach-Peterson, 1980). Second, support from family and friends and service agencies, when assessed as being useful, reduces the negative consequences of caregiving (Barber, 1989; Chiriboga, Weiler, & Nielsen, 1989; George & Gwyther, 1986; Horowitz, 1985). …