TitlePredictors and consequences of perceived lack of choice in becoming an informal caregiver.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsSchulz, R, Beach, SR, Cook, TB, Martire, LM, Tomlinson, JM, Monin, JK
JournalAging Ment Health
Volume16
Issue6
Pagination712-21
Date Published2012
ISSN1364-6915
KeywordsAdolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Caregivers, Choice Behavior, Data Collection, Decision Making, Educational Status, Female, Forecasting, Humans, Internal-External Control, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Stress, Psychological, United States, Young Adult
Abstract

<p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>Using data from a national sample of informal caregivers to older adults, we identify predictors of lack of choice and the consequences of lack of choice in taking on the caregiving role.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>A national telephone survey with 1397 caregivers was carried out to assess whether respondents had a choice in taking on the caregiving role, their demographic characteristics, the nature and duration of their caregiving experience, and its impact on their physical and psychological well-being. We compare caregivers who felt they had no choice in taking on the caregiving role to those who did.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>In total, 44% of caregivers reported a lack of choice in taking on the caregiving role. Highly educated, older caregivers caring for a younger care recipient with emotional or behavioral problems were most likely to report that they had no choice in taking on the caregiving role. Lack of choice is associated with higher levels of emotional stress, physical strain, and negative health impacts, after controlling for multiple confounds including level of care provided, relationship type, primary health condition of the care recipient, and demographic characteristics.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Lack of choice is an independent risk factor for the negative effects of caregiving, and clinicians should be vigilant to lack of choice as a marker of caregiver distress.</p>

DOI10.1080/13607863.2011.651439
Alternate JournalAging Ment Health
PubMed ID22360296
PubMed Central IDPMC3371285
Grant ListR01 AG015321 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
UL1 TR000005 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
AG026010 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 NR008272 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
AG15321 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG005133-23 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 MH071944 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
AG05133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026010-02 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R24 HL076858-05 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG005133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
MH071944 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
NR09573 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
P30 MH071944-05 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R24 HL076852-05 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R24 HL076858 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HL076858 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026010 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
UL1 RR024153 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG015321-10 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R24 HL076852 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
NR08272 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States
HL076852 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States