Quality of Relationships Between Care Recipients and Their Primary Caregivers and Its Effect on Caregivers' Burden and Satisfaction in Israel

Abstract

Research on the impact of quality of relationships between primary caregivers and their care recipients on burden and satisfaction with caregiving is still rare. The sample included 335 dyads of primary caregivers and care recipients who were cognitively intact. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at the respondents' homes using structured questionnaires. No significant correlation between caregiving burden and caregiving satisfaction was found. Quality of relationship was the most significant variable in explaining both caregiving burden and caregiving satisfaction, yet different sets of additional variables were found to explain each of the outcomes. Interventions should address quality of relationships in order to reduce burden and increase caregiving satisfaction.

Keywords:

• caregiving burden
• satisfaction
• quality of relationships
• primary caregivers
• care recipients

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Ministry of Senior Citizens in Israel.