title: Caregiving for elder relatives: which caregivers experience personal benefits/gains?
abstract: The present study asks whether the positive, rewarding experiences of caregiving (benefits/gains) emerge merely as a function of caregiver personality, or whether, after personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness, extroversion, neuroticism) are taken into account, other interpersonal factors make a difference. Survey data were collected from 63 family caregivers. Bivariate analyses revealed that caregiving benefits/gains were significantly and positively associated with two personality traits (agreeableness, extroversion), family and spouse/partner socio-emotional support, and prior relationship quality. Hierarchical regressions indicated that whereas neither family socio-emotional support nor prior relationship quality significantly predicted variance in caregiving benefits/gains beyond that accounted for by agreeableness and extroversion, spouse/partner socio-emotional support did. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Tucson, 85721-0033, USA. ssilver@ag.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Susan Silverberg
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Koerner
authors.forename: DenYelle Baete
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011177:Postal Service; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult