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Responses of elderly spouse caregivers
Author(s) -
Given Barbara,
Stommel Manfred,
Collins Clare,
King Sharon,
Given Charles W.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.4770130204
Subject(s) - spouse , feeling , abandonment (legal) , family caregivers , psychology , emotional support , clinical psychology , social support , gerontology , medicine , social psychology , sociology , anthropology , political science , law
In this paper three categories of variables were identified to predict spouses' reactions to caregiving roles: patient characteristics, the caregiving environment, and characteristics of the caregiver. Measures of these variables were administered to 159 spouse caregivers. Four domains of caregivers' responses were identified: negative emotional reactions, feelings of responsibility for the patient, feelings of abandonment by family, and impact of caregiving on daily schedules. These domains were influenced most by patient negative behaviors, physical health, and age, and by caregiver age, employment, and emotional status. Amount of assistance, affective support, and hours of care also were predictive of spouse responses.