Social support and caregiving circumstances as predictors of caregiver burden in Taiwan

Abstract Previous research has failed to consider the importance of caregiving circumstances and their impact on social support and caregiver burden. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association between perceived and received social support and caregiver burden. This cross-sectional study...

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Published inArchives of gerontology and geriatrics Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 419 - 424
Main Authors Chiou, Chii Jun, Chang, Hsing-Yi, Chen, I. Pin, Wang, Hsiu Hung
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.05.2009
Subjects
Aged
Burden
Caregiver burden
Caregivers - psychology
Caregiving circumstances
Carers
Caretaker syndrome
Chronic Disease - nursing
Cross-Sectional Studies
Family
Family functioning
Female
Humans
Internal Medicine
Male
Middle Aged
Perceived social support
Social Support
Surveys and Questionnaires
Taiwan
Taiwan
Caregiver burden
Caregiving circumstances
Social support
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Summary:Abstract Previous research has failed to consider the importance of caregiving circumstances and their impact on social support and caregiver burden. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association between perceived and received social support and caregiver burden. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 301 family caregivers. Data was collected using structured questionnaires which included a Social Support Scale, Family APGAR (adaptation, partnership, growth, affection, resolve), and Caregiver Burden Scale. Findings showed that the caregiver burden was best predicted by two perceived and one received social support variables. Caregiver burden was likely to be higher when the caregivers had lower levels of family function and social support. Perceived social support was better at predicting caregiver burden than received social support. Our study indicates that family function has an important influence on caregiver burden. Further studies on family based interventions are needed to determine approaches for effectively reducing caregiver burden. The role of perceived social support in the health of caregivers should be further investigated as a possible protective determinant in the caring process.
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ISSN:0167-4943
1872-6976
DOI:10.1016/j.archger.2008.04.001