Do caregiving burden and satisfaction predict loneliness in older care recipients?

Abstract

Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the extent to which caregiving burden and satisfaction of primary family caregivers in Israel predict loneliness among their older care recipients.Method: The study included a convenience sample of 325 dyads of respondents. The short version of Zarit Caregiving Burden Interview and Lawton Caregiving Appraisal measures were used to assess caregiving burden and satisfaction; the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale was used to assess care recipient's loneliness.Results: The results showed that greater caregiving burden was significantly correlated with increased loneliness, whereas greater caregiving satisfaction was significantly correlated with lower levels of loneliness.Conclusion: The literature has broadly addressed the association between caregiving burden and satisfaction and the caregivers’ well-being, whereas this association with regard to care recipients’ well-being has been barely examined. The multivariate analyses showed that caregiving burden was insignificant in explaining loneliness, whereas greater caregiving satisfaction was found significant in explaining lower levels of loneliness. The results and implications for further research and practice are discussed.