title: Gender differences in caregiver strain, needs for support, social support, and quality of life among spousal caregivers of persons with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caregivers of individuals with MS may experience unique caregiver strain due to the age at onset and progressive nature of the disease. Additionally, because MS is more prevalent in women, men often become spousal caregivers. However, gender differences in psychosocial adjustment among caregivers have not been fully explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore gender differences in the need for various supports and type of social support needed, caregiver strain, and quality of life among caregivers for individuals with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  106 caregivers participated in this study. Independent sample t-tests and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine gender differences in strain, need for supports, social support, and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses revealed gender difference among important psychosocial variables. Specifically, women reported higher levels of caregiver strain, higher needs for emotional support, and higher perceived social support. Additionally, multiple regression analyses revealed an inverse relationship between expressed emotional needs and quality of life for men, but not for women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MS caregivers experience significant strain that diminishes quality of life. Social support and needs fulfillment can act to buffer this stress; however, results indicate that this varies by gender, with gender differences observed in strain, perceived support, and expressed needs among MS caregivers. The study implications for rehabilitation research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Eun-Jeong
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pieczynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DeDios-Stern
authors.affiliation: West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simonetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Gloria K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000451:nursing*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Caregiving; gender differences; multiple sclerosis