Measuring cultural justifications for caregiving in African American and White caregivers.
OBJECTIVE
This report will elucidate the psychometric properties of the Cultural Justifications for Caregiving Scale (CJCS) and evaluate the differences in cultural values and demographic variables among a group of African American and White caregivers. The CJCS measures the cultural reasons for and expectations about providing care to an older relative.


METHODS
CJCS data were collected from 202 adults caring for an older relative with memory loss. The factor structure of the CJCS was analyzed for reliability and its correlation with other measures pertaining to the caregiving experience.


RESULTS
Exploratory factor analyses suggested two underlying factors relating to Duty and Reciprocity with high levels of reliability. The two factors showed different correlational patterns with other measures associated with the caregiving experience (CG demographics and well-being).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings provide further evidence that the CJCS is a reliable measure for use with African American and White caregivers. Moreover, cultural motivations to provide care may differ for ethnically diverse CGs based on religious backgrounds and beliefs about family expectations surrounding the care of loved ones. The application of the CJCS is also discussed.
Department of Psychology, The University of Akron, OH, USA smp72@zips.uakron.edu.
Sara M
SM
Powers
The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, OH, USA.
Carol J
CJ
Whitlatch
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011594:Psychometrics; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*
Sociocultural Stress and Coping Model; caregiving; cultural factors; exploratory factor analyses; persons with dementia