Burden and well-being among caregivers: examining the distinction.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed overall quality of life of caregivers, using a path model in which burden was conceptualized as distinct from well-being.


METHODS
Data were drawn from a representative sample of caregivers to dementia and nondementia care receivers in British Columbia, Canada (N = 243). The model used was based on a previously proposed stress/appraisal path model and used multiple regression path estimates. Primary stressors were care receiver cognitive status, physical function, and behavioral problems; the primary appraisal variable was hours of caregiving during the previous week. Mediators were perceived social support, frequency of getting a break, and hours of formal service use; secondary appraisal was subjective burden. The outcome measure was generalized well-being.


RESULTS
Well-being was directly affected by four variables: perceived social support, burden, self-esteem, and hours of informal care. Burden was affected directly by behavioral problems, frequency of getting a break, self-esteem, and informal hours of care and was not affected by perceived social support.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding that perceived social support is strongly related to well-being but unrelated to burden reinforces the conceptual distinctiveness of the latter two concepts. This suggests that quality of life of caregivers could be improved even with burden in their lives and that the overwhelming focus in caregiving research on burden should be supplemented with an emphasis on quality of life.
Chappell
Neena L
NL
Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, Sedgewick Building, A Wing Room 104, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada. nlc@uvic.ca
Reid
R Colin
RC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological