Older Husbands as Caregivers Factors Associated With Health and the Intention to End Home Caregiving

• Published in: Research on aging Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 3 - 31
• Main Authors: Ducharme, Francine, Lévesque, Louise, Lachance, Lise, Gangbè, Marcellin, Zarit, Steven H., Vézina, Jean, Caron, Chantal D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications 01.01.2007; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Caregivers; Caregiving; Cargivers; Deprivation; Elderly; Empowerment; Family Conflict; Husbands; Married couples; Older people; Personal health; Psychological aspects; Psychological Distress; Self-efficacy; Stress; Wives; health; crosssectional study; caregiving; older husband caregivers; factors; Pearlin model
• ISSN: 0164-0275; 1552-7573
• DOI: 10.1177/0164027506291749

The purpose of this study, based on Pearlin et al.'s model, was to determine the factors associated with the health of older husband caregivers and with their intention to end home caregiving for their wives. The results showed subjective stressors to be associated with outcomes. Role overload was linked to psychological distress and to lower self-perceived health, whereas role captivity was associated with psychological distress and the intention to end home caregiving. The likelihood of ceasing home caregiving increased when caregivers reported high relational deprivation. A high percentage of the variance in psychological distress was explained (51%). The quality of prior husband-wife relationships, the frequency of disruptive behaviors, family conflicts, and self-efficacy were associated with this variable. Selfefficacy had a mediating effect between subjective stressors and psychological distress, whereas the number of services received had a moderating effect on the intention to end home caregiving among husbands with high role captivity. This study provides avenues for interventions sensitive to male caregivers.