Family Caregivers’ Coping Resources and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This study examines the effects of coping resources on life satisfaction of middle and older caregivers looking after family members with activities of daily living disabilities. Personal resources and socio-relational resources were included as predictors after controlling for demographic characteristics. We studied 154 middle and 132 older adults drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA). The multiple regression results of this study were as follows. First, subjective health and family satisfaction had significant effects on middle-aged caregivers’ life satisfaction. Specifically higher levels of subjective health and better relationships with their family predicted higher levels of life satisfaction. Second, cognitive function, household income, and family satisfaction had significant effects on middle-aged caregivers’ life satisfaction. Higher household incomes, higher levels of cognitive function, and better relationships with family predicted higher levels of life satisfaction. For both middle and older adults, the effect size of family satisfaction was the largest out of all coping resources. The results revealed discrepancies regarding the importance of coping resources between middle and older caregivers, implying that developing interventions for middle and older caregivers (in accordance with their need for coping resources) is necessary. The results also indicated that having good relationships with one’s family was the most important factor for both middle aged and older caregivers’ life satisfaction. The results suggest that policies or services focused on endorsing healthy family relationships should be developed to improve the life satisfaction of caregivers.