title: Distress and hardiness: a comparison of African-American and white caregivers.
abstract: The difficulties and burdens of family caregiving, including mental and physical distress, have been well delineated, especially among White populations. Researchers have suggested that buffers for stress associated with caregiving might include hardiness, social support, or cultural group membership, with African-American caregivers perceiving less stress. This paper reports mental and physical distress and family hardiness among 46 African-American and White caregivers of stroke survivors. In contrast to other reports, African-American and White caregivers in this sample were found to be similar on most demographic measures, estimates of caregiver health, estimates of distress, and estimates of hardiness. The single estimate which showed interethnic difference was the confidence sub-scale of the Family Hardiness Index, on which African-Americans scored lower. This sub-scale is believed to estimate confidence in ability to cope with life's problems.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010551:Personality; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020521:Stroke / Q000451:nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*