STRESS, STRAIN, HEALTH, AND SERVICE USE AMONG PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CAREGIVERS. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marino, V; Badana, A; Haley, W
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 295
• Page End: 295
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.1088
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: While most caregiving research focuses on primary caregivers, this paper compared primary (i.e., provides all or most of the care) and secondary caregivers of parents, other family, and friends. Outcomes included care demands, emotional stress, physical and financial strain, self-rated health, and service use. The sample was drawn from the nationally representative National Alliance for Caregiving and the American Association of Retired Persons' Caregiving in the U.S. 2015 data set and included 844 primary and secondary caregivers of an adult 50 plus. 2 x 3 factorial ANOVAs adjusted for duration of care and ADL/IADL assistance were used to compare primary and secondary caregivers across relationship types. Primary caregivers reported greater care demands and more financial strain than secondary caregivers but did not differ in emotional stress, physical strain, self-rated health, or service use. A significant primary caregiver status by relationship interaction showed primary caregivers of friends provided more ADL/IADL assistance than secondary caregivers of friends. Caregivers of parents generally reported higher levels of care demands, stress, and strain than other relationship types, but did not differ from caregivers of other family in physical strain or service use. Secondary caregivers reported fewer care demands but similar levels of emotional stress, physical strain, self-rated health, and service use as primary caregivers. Witnessing the decline of a loved one while caregiving might be a stressor independent of relationship type or care demands. Future research should examine the potentially unique needs of secondary caregivers and caregivers of friends, who are common and understudied.