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Abstract
This study identified the types of caregiver stress and the caregiver and care management characteristics that are associated with this stress. 169 caregivers were recruited from a variety of community settings that cater to caregivers in a New England metropolitan area. They completed the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and a questionnaire concerning their care recipient and caregiving arrangements. Principal Components Analysis on the ZBI resulted in five factors: personal strain/loss, uncertainty/inadequacy, social strain/embarrassment, anger, and dependency. The average age of the caregiver was 59.95 years (SD = 11.75) and the average age of the CR was 83.44 years (SD = 7.88). Of the 169 caregivers, 82% were women, 61.5% daughters/in-law or wives (12.9%), 34.3% were solo caregivers; 16.8% little or no burden, 39.9% reported mild to moderate burden, 35% moderate to severe burden, and 8.4% had severe burden. Dependency (22.4%) and personal strain/loss (13.7%) had the highest proportions reported as “often” to “nearly always.” The ZBI was predicted by only two caregiver characteristics, indicating that it is not sensitive to the experiences of different types of caregivers. Caregivers experience different types of burden depending on their gender, kinship roles, and levels of involvement in the care of their older relative. Solo caregiver status and age (younger) significantly predicted most if not all 5 burden types. Solo and young caregivers experienced the highest levels of caregiver burden. Social work practice must identify the caregiver’s life stage and other and self-expectations in relation to dependency, personal loss, embarrassment, anger, or uncertainty.
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