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Abstract
Objective: We investigated a) the number of reported benefits in an informal caregiving situation and b) the factors that predict the caregiver’s (CG’s) experience of benefits.
Method: In this cross-sectional study, we computed univariate analyses and a multiple regression analysis using a benefit score as the dependent variable. Participants were 734 informal CGs who provide care for a person with chronic care needs in Germany. We examined the CG’s self-reported physical complaints (GBB-24), subjective burden (CSI), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), quality of life (CarerQoL), and benefits (BIZA-D).
Results: Most of the CGs (87.1%) experienced benefits in at least one field. A higher experience of benefits was significantly associated with: more depressive symptoms (r = 0.10), higher burden (r = 0.17), longer duration of care (r = 0.07), longer daily care time (r = 0.21), more physical complaints (r = 0.15), and a good quality of the relationship between CG and CR (η = 0.13). In the multivariate regression analysis, a good relationship between the CG and CR (β = .157, P < .001), an increased amount of care time (β = .188, P < .001), and a higher level of burden (β = .167, P < .001) were associated with greater CG’s benefits.
Conclusion: CG benefits are a very important, often experienced, but less-explored construct in caregiving research. Benefits do not seem to be on the opposite end of the same continuum as negative aspects of caregiving. Benefits appear to be a nearly distinct dimension in informal care settings.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Uta Graf for the data acquisition. We would also like to thank our English language editor, Dr. Jane Zagorski.
Disclosure of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Anna Pendergrass
EG: study concept and design. AP, NK: data analysis. EG, AP, NK: data interpretation and preparation of manuscript. MM, DÖ: revision of manuscript. The present work was performed in patial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the degree ‘Dr. rer. biol. hum.’ by NK.
Mary Mittelman
EG: study concept and design. AP, NK: data analysis. EG, AP, NK: data interpretation and preparation of manuscript. MM, DÖ: revision of manuscript. The present work was performed in patial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the degree ‘Dr. rer. biol. hum.’ by NK.
Elmar Graessel
EG: study concept and design. AP, NK: data analysis. EG, AP, NK: data interpretation and preparation of manuscript. MM, DÖ: revision of manuscript. The present work was performed in patial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the degree ‘Dr. rer. biol. hum.’ by NK.
Dominik Özbe
EG: study concept and design. AP, NK: data analysis. EG, AP, NK: data interpretation and preparation of manuscript. MM, DÖ: revision of manuscript. The present work was performed in patial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the degree ‘Dr. rer. biol. hum.’ by NK.
Nina Karg
EG: study concept and design. AP, NK: data analysis. EG, AP, NK: data interpretation and preparation of manuscript. MM, DÖ: revision of manuscript. The present work was performed in patial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the degree ‘Dr. rer. biol. hum.’ by NK.