BUFFERING EFFECT OF SOCIAL SUPPORT ON PRIMARY CAREGIVER'S HEALTH AFTER NURSE HOME ADMISSION OF ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBER.
Contributors: State University of New York at Buffalo.
Published: 1990
Number of pages: 233
Subjects: Education, Health.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify those perceived stresses that act on the caregiver prior to the nursing home placement of an older adult, and to investigate how supportive services (informal and formal) may impact to reduce the effects of those stressors on the caregiver.

A random sample of 168 primary caregivers was obtained from nursing homes in Erie County whose administrators agreed to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the caregivers' homes within six months after the nursing home placement of their significant other. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Moment Correlations and Hierarchical Regression Analysis.

The majority of caregivers were female, married, between the ages of 55-60 years, had children living at home and were working either full-time or part-time in addition to caring for a parent. The average caregiving period was 7.3 years, with relocation of the older person into the caregiver's home for one-third of the study sample.

The majority of caregivers had little or not help in the thirteen caregiving tasks from family or friends, with the exception of emotional support. Helpers who provided assistance, where given, were primarily the caregiver's spouse or sibling. In addition, very few caregivers obtained community services to assist with caregiving responsibilities.

Statistical analysis indicated that the caregiver task score was positively correlated with subjective perception of burden. In turn, burden was highly correlated with depression and poor physical health after the nursing home admission. Low satisfaction with social support was also correlated with depression and poor physical health.

Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that perceived satisfaction with social support served as a main effect on depression, while the presence of children under seventeen years of age served as a buffering mechanism on depression, but not on physical health of the caregiver after the nursing home admission of a significant other.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-08, Section: A, page: 2644.

Thesis (ED.D.)--STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO, 1990.

School code: 0656.