Testing a Symmetrical Model of Caregiving Outcomes During Recovery from Heart Attacks

This study focused on predictors of psychological distress among caregivers to elderly patients with heart disease using a symmetrical model of caregiving stress. Based on a 1-year longitudinal study of 104 caregiver-care receiver dyads, findings indicate that caregivers continue to face challenges...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Research on aging 1993-12, Vol.15 (4), p.371-398, Article 371
Main Authors: Kahana, Eva, Young, Rosalie F., Kerchir, Kyle, Kaczynski, Richard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cardiovascular disease
Caregivers
Elderly
Heart Diseases
Home health care
Patients
Psychological Distress
Social research
Stress
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Summary:This study focused on predictors of psychological distress among caregivers to elderly patients with heart disease using a symmetrical model of caregiving stress. Based on a 1-year longitudinal study of 104 caregiver-care receiver dyads, findings indicate that caregivers continue to face challenges a year after the initial heart attack. Psychological distress of the recovering heart patient plays an important role in predicting caregiver psychological distress. In contrast, patient cardiac symptoms and functional limitations showed no effects. Among caregiver characteristics, physical health, prior psychological distress, and caregiver burden were significant predictors of caregiver psychological distress. Finally, caregiving hours displayed an unexpected negative direct effect on caregiver distress. However, the indirect effect of caregiving hours on distress (via burden) was in the expected positive direction. These data support the usefulness of symmetrical models that consider characteristics of both members of the caregiving dyad in predicting caregiving outcomes.
ISSN:0164-0275
1552-7573
DOI:10.1177/0164027593154001