title: Stressors and life goals of caregivers of individuals with disabilities.
abstract: Caregivers of individuals with disabilities can experience stress as they manage caregiving responsibilities while they attempt to balance family, work, and the satisfaction of their personal goals. In this pilot study, 31 caregivers of individuals with a variety of disabilities completed a quantitative-qualitative survey. A statistically significant relationship was found between the age and severity of disability of the family member receiving care, the length of time care had been provided, the educational level and the relationship of the caregiver to the family member and reported feelings of optimism, humbleness, quality of family relationships, financial concerns, loss of control, and hope. When life goals were probed, the most common reported were achieving financial stability, having a strong, healthy family, and experiencing happiness. The implications for supporting caregivers and their families are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Disorders & Special Education, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529-0136, USA. sraverla@odu.edu
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Raver
authors.forename: Anne P M
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Michalek
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gillespie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors