Predictors of the personal benefits and positive aspects of informal caregiving

Pendergrass A, Mittelman M, Grässel E, Özbe D, Karg N (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Aging & Mental Health Taylor & Francis (Routledge): STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles / Taylor & Francis (Routledge)

Book Volume: 23

Pages Range: 1533-1538

Journal Issue: 11

DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2018.1501662

Abstract

Objective: We investigated a) the number of reported benefits in an informal caregiving situation and b) the factors that predict the caregiver's (CG's) experience of benefits. Method: In this cross-sectional study, we computed univariate analyses and a multiple regression analysis using a benefit score as the dependent variable. Participants were 734 informal CGs who provide care for a person with chronic care needs in Germany. We examined the CG's self-reported physical complaints (GBB-24), subjective burden (CSI), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), quality of life (CarerQoL), and benefits (BIZA-D). Results: Most of the CGs (87.1%) experienced benefits in at least one field. A higher experience of benefits was significantly associated with: more depressive symptoms (r = 0.10), higher burden (r = 0.17), longer duration of care (r = 0.07), longer daily care time (r = 0.21), more physical complaints (r = 0.15), and a good quality of the relationship between CG and CR (eta = 0.13). In the multivariate regression analysis, a good relationship between the CG and CR (beta = .157, P < .001), an increased amount of care time (beta = .188, P < .001), and a higher level of burden (beta = .167, P < .001) were associated with greater CG's benefits. Conclusion: CG benefits are a very important, often experienced, but less-explored construct in caregiving research. Benefits do not seem to be on the opposite end of the same continuum as negative aspects of caregiving. Benefits appear to be a nearly distinct dimension in informal care settings.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anna Pendergrass Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Elmar Grässel Medizinische Fakultät Dominik Özbe-Schönfeld Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Nina Karg Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Involved external institutions

New York University (NYU) US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Pendergrass, A., Mittelman, M., Grässel, E., Özbe, D., & Karg, N. (2019). Predictors of the personal benefits and positive aspects of informal caregiving. Aging & Mental Health, 23(11), 1533-1538. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1501662

MLA:

Pendergrass, Anna, et al. "Predictors of the personal benefits and positive aspects of informal caregiving." Aging & Mental Health 23.11 (2019): 1533-1538.

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