Self-gain and self-loss among African American and white caregivers.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the effects of a traditional ideology of care and role conflict on the intrinsic rewards (self-gain) and consequences (self-loss) of caregiving among African Americans and Whites.


METHODS
Using a cross-sectional telephone survey of caregivers in North Carolina (n = 481), the authors performed a structural equation groups analysis to assess the equality of an a priori caregiving model for African Americans (n = 257) and Whites (n = 224).


RESULTS
Despite a stronger preference for family care among African Americans, traditional caregiving ideology was associated with more self-gain among Whites only; there was no relationship between preference for family care and self-loss for either group. Furthermore, role conflict was unrelated to self-gain but was related to more self-loss for both groups. Three additional relationships differed between African Americans and Whites: age and self-gain, gender and self-gain, and care recipient depression and role conflict. However, 12 proposed relationships were statistically significant and equivalent for African Americans and Whites.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that contextual elements that influence preference for family care and role conflict are almost identical for African Americans and Whites. Caregiver demographics are associated with caregiving ideology, whereas care recipient frailty is related to role conflict. However, there are differences between African American and White caregivers, which primarily stem from the role of age, gender, and preference for family care with self-gain.
Foley
Kristie Long
KL
Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. kfoley@wfubmc.edu
Tung
Ho-Jui
HJ
Mutran
Elizabeth J
EJ
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*