Caregiver role strain: The contribution of multiple roles and available resources in African-American women

Abstract

While the roles of spouse, parent, and employee are normative for middle-aged adults, strain associated with each role may increase when the role of caregiver is added. The objectives of the present study were to determine: (1). what is the relationship between the caregiver's other roles (marital, parental, employee), specific combinations of these roles, and role strain; and (2). what is the relationship between available resources (economic, social, and personal) and role strain? The study participants were 148 African-American females who provided care to elderly family members. A model using multiple linear regression was analyzed. Caregivers with higher depressive symptomatology were more strained. However, neither additional multiple roles, nor a combination of roles were significantly related to role strain. African-American caregivers experienced a wide range of caregiver role strain. It would be a disservice to African-American caregivers to operate under the assumption that they provide care with little emotional cost. Continued within group analyses are needed to understand differential outcomes of these caregivers.