Memorial University DAI: Caregivers' perception of health, burden, social support, and care receiver problems

advanced search

Digital Archives Initiative
Memorial University - Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2

menu off

add document to favorites : add page to favorites : reference url

back to results : previous : next

Search this object:

0 hit(s) :: previous hit : next hit

View:

previous page : next page

Document Description

Title	Caregivers' perception of health, burden, social support, and care receiver problems
Author	Snow-Spracklin, Elizabeth G., 1951-
Description	Thesis (M.N.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1998. Nursing
Date	1998
Pagination	ix, 162 leaves : ill.
Subject	Caregivers--Health and hygiene; Caregivers--Mental health; Caregivers; Mental Health; Health Status; Social Support
Degree	M.N.
Degree Grantor	Memorial University of Newfoundland. School of Nursing
Discipline	Nursing
Language	Eng
Notes	Bibliography: leaves 123-132.
Abstract	A descriptive correlational study was designed to investigate perceptions of health status in a convenience sample of seventy-five primary caregivers waiting to place older adults in a nursing home. The relationships among sociodemographics, caregiving factors, burden, care receiver problems, social support, and caregiver health status was also explored. The conceptual framework for the study was based on the Stress Process Model (Pearlin, Mullan, Semple, & Skaff, 1990). -- Most caregivers were adult children (66.7%), female (54.7%), living with care receivers (56.0%) in a rural area (61.3%), employed or looking for work (50.6%), and between 46 and 64 years of age (57.3%). Data were collected over a six-month period. The Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist, Consequences of Care Index, Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, and Descriptive Profile Form were administered during interviews with participants. -- Study findings indicated that most caregivers were experiencing burden and adverse health effects. Caregiver burden was highest for personal and social restrictions, physical and emotional, and economic costs. The majority of participants rated their physical health good, and their mental health fair to good. -- The findings also indicated that sociodemographics and caregiving factors, care receiver problems, and burden had a limited effect on caregiver health status. Care receiver memory and behavior problems, care receiver cognitive impairment, and caregiver overall burden were associated with poorer mental health. With regards to social support variables, only tangible support correlated with physical and mental health. During regression analysis, mental health and employment surfaced as predictors of physical health, and the physical and emotional dimension of burden and physical health as predictors of mental health. -- The results of this study suggest that caregivers are experiencing negative health effects. The factors influencing the caregiving process are complex and require further research to clarify their prevalence and importance for caregivers. Although the results of the current study are not generalizable, they do support some of the findings from previous research and can be used to better inform nursing practice, education, and research.
Type	Text
Resource Type	Electronic thesis or dissertation
Format	Image/jpeg; Application/pdf
Source	Paper copy kept in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University Libraries
Local Identifier	a1321845
Rights	The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission.
Collection	Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Scanning Status	Completed
PDF File	(39.64 MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/theses/Snow-Spracklin_ElizabethG.pdf
CONTENTdm file name	273541.cpd