The negative impact of global perceptions of and daily care-related family conflict on Hispanic caregivers: Familism as a potential moderator

Abstract

Objectives: Using selected concepts from Pearlin's care giving stress model and incorporating a daily stress-reactivity perspective, the current study surveyed Hispanic family caregivers (HCGs) to: (a) document the occurrence of family disagreements regarding care; (b) examine the impact of family disagreements regarding care on HCGs’ emotional/physical well being; and (c) determine the moderating role of familism – whether strong familism beliefs buffer or exacerbate the negative impact of family disagreements on HCGs.

Methods: Participants (n = 67) reported their daily experiences of family disagreements regarding care, depressive symptoms, feelings of burden, and physical health symptoms on eight consecutive survey days; and, in a separate survey, reported their global perceptions of family disagreements regarding care and their familism beliefs.

Results: Multilevel-modeling indicated (a) a significant link between global perceptions of family disagreement regarding care and greater depressive symptoms, feelings of burden, and physical health symptoms and (b) significant moderating (i.e., exacerbating) effects of familism at the daily level suggesting that HCGs with stronger familism beliefs are more reactive to daily care-related family disagreement occurrences.

Conclusions: The findings from the current study suggest that family disagreement regarding care is a salient aspect of the context of care giving for HCGs, and is linked to depressive symptoms, feelings of burden, and physical health symptoms. Familism may play an exacerbating role in this link. Interpretations of the results and implications for research and intervention are offered.

Keywords:

• care giving
• daily diary
• disagreement
• familism
• family conflict

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by funds to the first author from the Frances McClelland Institute of Children, Youth, and Families and the Fitch Nesbitt Endowment (Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona). Special thanks are extended to Drs. DenYelle Kenyon and Katerina Sinclair, and to undergraduate research assistants Rosa Pedroza, Gisel Amaya, Hannah Burnidge, Gabriela Castillon, Maddison Gan, Hanna Henson, Coree Parra, and Jennifer Randle for their valuable contributions to the research project. Correspondence should be addressed to Susan Silverberg Koerner, Ph.D., Division of Family Studies and Human Development, P.O. Box 210078, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721-0078, or [email protected].

Notes

Notes

1. When we compared the demographic and contextual information (obtained during the phone screening) via independent sample t-tests and chi-square non-parametric statistics from the 36 CGs who did not return completed surveys to that from the 67 participants, we found that the two groups were similar on most counts [i.e., length of time providing care, hours of care provided each week, CG language preference, CG-CR relationship type (e.g., spouse, adult child), age of CR, and living arrangement]. The only significant difference was in age of CGs; the 36 nonparticipants were somewhat younger than the 67 participants, t(101) = −2.1, p < 0.05 (M = 47.89 years vs. M = 52.45 years).

2. Using this translation method, an experienced bilingual/bicultural staff member translated the material from English into Spanish and then a different bilingual/bicultural staff member (working independently) translated the material back into English. The two English versions were compared and any differences were noted. Changes were made as needed in the translation with the input and consensus of professional and lay bilingual individuals.