| Learning Objective #1: Describe the relationships of stress, burden, and health status in rural caregivers | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify three common physical health problems in the rural caregiver population |
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among stress, caregiver burden, and the health status of rural caregivers and assess whether caregiver burden and stress predict the physical health status of caregivers in the rural setting. Design: A descriptive-correlational design was utilized to explore caregiver health status as it relates to stress and burden. Sample: A convenience sample of 63 (mean age=58.49, SD=12.76) informal caregivers (78% female, 22% male) in rural Alabama and Mississippi were recruited through churches and home health care agencies. Methods: The participants self-reported their perceptions of stress, burden, and health status using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview Scale, Lifestyle Appraisal Questionnaire, and the health status question from the National Health Interview Survey. Caregivers were asked questions specifically related to the rural nature of their residence. These included proximity to the care recipient, miles to the nearest hospital, miles to the care recipient’s doctor, and miles to the caregiver’s doctor. Results: The relationships among stress, burden, and health status in rural caregivers were significantly related (p < .05) and significant variance in health status (p < .05) was accounted for by the model variables of stress and caregiver burden. Significant variance (p < .05) in caregiver burden was accounted for by the model variables of caregiver age and employment status. Caregivers who provided care for individuals with low levels of functioning experienced caregiver burden and reported a poor health status. Conclusion: The findings are consistent with those in the literature from other populations of caregivers. The caregivers were found to have higher rates of obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and rate their health poorer than the general population. Caregivers complained of experiencing uncomfortable physical symptoms and sleep disturbances. Implications: Interventional studies are needed that address the health needs of the rural caregiver population.
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