Abstract
BackgroundDespite the importance of coping in caregiving, there are few studies on the relationship between coping and quality of life in caregivers of the frail dependent elderly. Thus, this study aims to analyze the relationship between coping strategies and quality of life dimensions in primary caregivers of dependent elderly relatives.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from 86 caregivers. Predictive variables were coping strategies (problem-focused, emotion-focused, socially-supported, and dysfunctional); dependent variables were quality of life dimensions (psychological, physical, relational, and environmental); and potential confounding variables were age, gender, perceived health and burden of caregiver, and functional capacity of care receiver. Correlation coefficients were calculated and multiple linear regression analysis was performed.ResultsAfter controlling for potential confounders, dysfunctional coping was related to worse quality of life in the psychological dimension, while emotion-focused and socially-supported coping were related to superior psychological and environmental dimensions of quality of life. The physical and relational dimensions of quality of life were not related to coping strategies.Conclusions1) it is important to consider coping strategies in the assessment of primary caregivers of dependent elderly relatives; 2) the quality of life of caregivers is related to their coping strategies, 3) their quality of life can be worsened by avoidance-type coping, and 4) their quality of life can be improved by active emotion-focused coping and socially-supported coping.
Highlights
Care of the dependent elderly by relatives is increasingly frequent with the aging of populations and represents the main care resource [1]
The mean age of the caregivers was 61.7 yrs; 79.1% were female; 53.5% were the children of the care receivers, and 90.7% resided with them (Table 1)
In this study of the primary caregivers of dependent elderly relatives, dysfunctional coping was related to a worse quality of life in the psychological dimension, while emotion-focused and socially-supported coping strategies were associated with a superior quality of life in psychological and environmental dimensions, respectively
Summary
Care of the dependent elderly by relatives is increasingly frequent with the aging of populations and represents the main care resource [1]. In their multidimensional Stress Process Model, Pearlin, Mullan, Semple, & Skaff [7] categorized four types of variables that affect the well-being and quality of life of the caregivers: contextual variables, primary objective stressors, secondary stressors, and modulating variables. In this model, coping strategies have a modulating function that allows the recording of different individual responses to the same care situation. Various authors (e.g.: [15]) have observed that the management of stress by coping increases the quality of life
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