Financial Strain, Employment, and Role Captivity and Overload Over Time Among Dementia Family Caregivers

Overview

Journal Gerontologist

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2019 Jul 20

PMID 31322654

Citations 13

Authors

Yin Liu

Malinda Dokos

Elizabeth B Fauth

Yoon G Lee

Steven H Zarit

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Objectives: This study examined how financial strain and changes in employment status affect subjective stressors over 12 months in 184 family caregivers of individuals with dementia.

Research Design And Methods: Subjective stressors of role overload and role captivity, and employment status were measured at baseline, 6-, and 12-months. Self-reports on financial strain were measured at baseline only. Caregivers were categorized into 3 groups based on changes in their employment status during the study over 12 months: (a) who were never employed, (b) who experienced some sort of employment status change, either going from employment to unemployment or vice versa, and (c) who were always employed. Growth curve analyses were conducted to examine within-person changes in role overload and role captivity, and associations with employment and financial strain.

Results: Caregivers with greater financial strain at baseline had higher levels of role overload and increasing role captivity over time. Caregivers who experienced a caregiving transition and had low financial strain at baseline showed greater decrease in role captivity over 12 months. Although caregivers who were consistently unemployed reported lower levels of role overload, they also showed steeper increase over time than those who were consistently employed.

Discussion And Implications: Caregivers' perceptions of financial strain add to the long-term stress of the caregiving role. Changes in caregivers' employment status may have complex associations with their feelings of stress over time.

Citing Articles

Factors influencing the employed caregiver burden for patients with dementia residing in nursing homes: A cross-sectional study from China.

Liu C, Zheng H, Li B, He S, Hu R, Li F Int J Nurs Sci. 2025; 11(4):457-464.

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Understanding and Addressing Mental Health Disparities and Stigma in Serious Illness and Palliative Care.

Gerhart J, Oswald L, McLouth L, Gibb L, Perry L, England A Illn Crises Loss. 2024; 33(1):109-129.

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The roles of employment status and income in the mental health of informal caregivers in Germany.

Scheuermann J, Pendergrass A, Diehl K, Herr R BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):2802.

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Exploring Social Support Experiences of Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia in Hospice Care.

Cho H, Sefcik J, Washington K, Parker Oliver D, Demiris G J Appl Gerontol. 2024; 44(1):62-69.

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How do care partners overcome the challenges associated with falls of community-dwelling older people with dementia? A qualitative study.

Zhou Y, Thakkar N, Phelan E, Ishado E, Li C, Borson S Dementia (London). 2024; 23(7):1152-1171.

PMID: 39033360 PMC: 11437702. DOI: 10.1177/14713012241267137.

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