Sources of caregiver stress among African-americans

Purpose: This study identified sources of stress among African Americans caregivers.

Method: A convenience sample of caregivers (N=110) who provided at least 5 hours of care per week to a relative 55 years old or older, was recruited from community settings in metropolitan areas in northeastern United States. They completed a self-administered questionnaire concerning caregiver stress and its potential determinants.

Results: The average age of the caregivers was 42.5 (SD=15.3) years; 41.8% were employed full-time; 81.8% were females and 34.3% were sole caregivers; primary caregivers (65.1%) provided an average of 36.8 (SD=46.5) hrs. of care per week, The care recipient, on average, was 75.1 (SD=9.7) years old, had moderate functional status (ADL: 4.37 (SD=2.2) and IADL: 4.1 (SD=3.1)) mostly lived (51.8%) lived with a caregiver. The sample experienced low burden/stress (Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZCBI), M=22, SD=13.58); positive perceptions of caregiving (Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC): 4.1 (SD=0.7); moderate religiosity: 4.78 (SD=1.55) and moderate family disagreements: 2.28 (SD= 1.13). High scores on CES-D scale (â=0.36**), lower scores on PAC (â=-0.21**), more family disagreements (â=0.37**), and higher religiosity (â=0.27**), were significant predictors of ZCBI in regression analysis. They accounted for 50% of the variance in the ZCBI (Adj R2 .50**). IADLs, ADLs, weekly hours of care, and living with caregiver were not significant predictors.

Conclusion: African American caregivers tend to experience low to moderate caregiver burden. The main contributors to caregiver stress are family disagreements and depression. There is a need to develop interventions that lower caregiver burden among African-Americans.