Correlation between Preventive Health Behavior and Family Burden in Family Caregivers for the Elderly with Dementia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify correlations of preventive health behavior and family burden in family caregivers for elderly patients with dementia at home. This cross sectional study was conducted with 153 family caregivers from February to May 2012. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation. The mean scores for preventive health behavior and family burden were 2.35 (±0.32) and 2.15 (±0.48) respectively. The highes level of behavior among sub-components of preventive health behavior scale was lifestyle management, while the lowest level of behavior was exercise and activity. The highest level of family burden among subdimensions was personal and social restrictions, while the lowest level of burden was care recipient as provocateur. Preventive health behavior of family caregivers showed significantly negative correlation with family burden (r=-.561, p<.001) and its sub-components: Personal and social restrictions (r=-.558, p<.001), physical and emotional health (r=- .773, p<.001), feeling of worthiness of providing care (r=-.342, p<.001) and care recipient as provocateur (r=-.317, p<.001). Therefore, nursing and healthcare professionals need to focus more on caregivers’ health status and preventive health behavior before serious health problems are emerged. Furthermore, healthcare professionals are required to pay more attention to negative emotions as well as health-related behavior of caregivers when they experience burden on caring for the elderly with dementia.Keywords: Burden, Family Caregiver, Preventive Health Behavior