title: Family caregiving to those with dementia in rural Alabama: racial similarities and differences.
abstract: This study explored differences and similarities in the experiences of African American and White family caregivers of dementia patients living in rural Alabama. This cross-sectional survey used a caregiving stress model to investigate the interrelationships between caregiving burden, mediators, and outcomes. Random-digit-dialing telephone interviews were used to obtain data on a probability sample of 74 non-Hispanic White and 67 African American caregivers. White caregivers were more likely to be married and older, used acceptance and humor as coping styles, and had fewer financial problems. African American caregivers gave more hours of care, used religion and denial as coping styles, and were less burdened. The authors have developed a methodology for obtaining a representative sample of African American and White rural caregivers. Further investigations are needed of the interactions between urban/rural location and ethnic/racial backgrounds of dementia caregivers for heuristic and applied reasons.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Jordan I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Kosberg
authors.forename: Allan V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Louis D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Burgio
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Leeper
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000407:Alabama / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003704:Dementia; D003710:Demography; D005190:Family; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012067:Religion; D012424:Rural Population; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American