The effects of familism and cultural justification on the mental and physical health of family caregivers.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to examine the effects of 2 factors of familism (Familial Obligations and Expected Support from the Family) and Cultural Justification on caregivers' mental and physical health as mediated by coping style.


METHODS
We used a probability sample of 95 African American and 65 White family caregivers for people with dementia to test hypotheses based on the updated sociocultural stress and coping model using path analysis. Main outcome measures included depressive symptomatology, various psychological symptoms, and subjective physical health.


RESULTS
Both Familial Obligations and Cultural Justification had an indirect effect on poor mental health and subjective physical health via avoidant coping. Expected Support from the Family had no effect on caregivers' health outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that feelings of obligation may be accounting for a significant proportion of the negative effects of familism on caregivers' mental and subjective physical health. Expectations of familial social support may be relatively inconsequential in this process.
Sayegh
Philip
P
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061, USA. psayegh@usc.edu
Knight
Bob G
BG
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003704:Dementia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D044465:White People
Aging Ment Health. 2005 Sep;9(5):482-95
16024408
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2000 May;55(3):P142-50
11833976
Aging Ment Health. 2007 Jan;11(1):20-9
17164154
Gerontologist. 1980 Dec;20(6):649-55
7203086
Arch Neurol. 2003 Aug;60(8):1119-22
12925369
Psychol Aging. 1992 Dec;7(4):622-31
1466831
Gerontologist. 2001 Apr;41(2):210-9
11327487
Health Psychol. 2007 Sep;26(5):564-76
17845108
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2007 Mar;62(2):P126-37
17379673
J Cross Cult Gerontol. 1999 Dec;14(4):335-56
14618013
J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996 Feb;64(1):121-9
8907091
Gerontologist. 2002 Apr;42(2):237-72
11914467
Gerontologist. 2001 Jun;41(3):334-47
11405431
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2010 Jan;65B(1):5-13
19934166
Int J Behav Med. 1997;4(1):92-100
16250744
Gerontologist. 2003 Jun;43(3):396-405; discussion 372-5
12810904
Gerontologist. 1989 Oct;29(5):667-76
2513266
Psychol Bull. 1992 Nov;112(3):400-4
1438635
Gerontologist. 1997 Jun;37(3):342-54
9203758
J Gerontol. 1989 May;44(3):P61-71
2715587
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2004 May;59(3):S138-45
15118019
Aging Ment Health. 2007 Sep;11(5):538-46
17882592
Psychol Bull. 2003 Nov;129(6):946-72
14599289
J Cult Divers. 1995 Fall;2(4):116-23
8788848
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005 Sep;60(5):S257-62
16131626
Aging Ment Health. 2010 Mar;14(2):193-202
20336551
Gerontologist. 1995 Dec;35(6):771-91
8557205