Family caregiving in the Pacific Rim: results of a survey conducted in California, Shanghai and Beijing

Abstract

This study compares the results of a survey conducted in California and China, specifically in the areas of Shanghai and Beijing, on family caregiving (N = 2200). Both descriptive and multivariate methods of analysis were used to examine similarities and differences in the ways in which primary caregivers and their families were impacted by caregiving. Significant differences were found in areas such as the proportion of male caregivers, the length and amount of care provided by the primary caregiver and impacts on physical and mental health. In both samples, emotional burden was predictive of negative family outcomes and the presence of social support was found to mitigate those outcomes. However, in three of the five models predicting family outcomes, nationality retained significance, indicating that there are still differences between the two cultures in the impact on the family.

本研究比较了一项在美国加利福尼亚州和中国(特别是上海和北京)进行的有关家庭照顾的调查结果。本研究用描述分析法的和多变量分析法来研究主要照顾者和他们的家人受照顾时所受的影响的异同。我们发现其中有几个显著的差异:男性照顾者的比例，主要照顾者提供照顾时间的长短，以及对身体和精神健康的影响等。两个样本均显示情绪负担预示着对家庭有负面的影响，社会支持有助减轻这些负面后果。然而，在五个预测的模型中，有三个显示两国文化对家庭的影响也存在着分歧。

Keywords:

• caregiving
• California
• Shanghai and Beijing
• family