Abstract
BackgroundSince the majority of stroke survivors return home following their stroke, families play a pivotal role in their care. Few studies have addressed both positive and negative aspects of this role or the broader construct of health-related quality of life (HRQL). Furthermore, little consideration has been given to the context of care in terms of relationship quality, and reciprocity. The present study examined the relationships between caregiver quality of life (HRQL), caregiver role, relationship satisfaction, balance and reciprocity in caregivers of partners who had experienced a stroke. Specific hypotheses were made based on equity theory in social relations.MethodsFifty-six partner caregivers completed a postal survey that included measures of HRQL (SF-36), caregiver role (negative and positive aspects), relationship satisfaction, reciprocity and balance. Data were also collected on the care recipients' quality of life (Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale).ResultsCompared to a normative sample, caregivers' HRQL was lower for all SF-36 domains. Care recipient and caregiver age, care recipient quality of life and caregiver role (negative) significantly predicted physical component summary scores on the SF-36, while care recipient quality of life and caregiver role (negative) significantly correlated with mental component summary scores. Relationship satisfaction and intrinsic rewards of caregiving were found to be important predictors of positive aspects of the caregiver role. Caregivers who viewed their relationship as less balanced in terms of give and take had significantly greater caregiver burden than those who viewed their relationship as more equitable.ConclusionsThe study highlights the importance of taking a broader approach to examining partner caregiving in the context of stroke, in terms of the caregiving relationship and their influence on the health and well-being of caregivers.
Highlights
Since the majority of stroke survivors return home following their stroke, families play a pivotal role in their care
To address the aforementioned gaps in the existing literature, the present study aims to test the following research hypotheses based on equity theory: Hypothesis 1 - Caregiver perceived reciprocity will be significantly related to positive aspects of the caregiver role and inversely related to negative aspects of the caregiver role
Descriptive statistics Caregiver health-related quality of life Comparing descriptive statistics for caregiver HRQL to normative data from the general US population [34], we found that scores were lower for all SF-36 domains (Table 2)
Summary
Since the majority of stroke survivors return home following their stroke, families play a pivotal role in their care. Few studies have addressed both positive and negative aspects of this role or the broader construct of health-related quality of life (HRQL). Fewer studies have investigated the more global construct of quality of life in caregivers of a family. Of those studies that have been conducted, in general, the findings indicate that caregiving negatively impacts on quality of life [1,2,3]. Based on White et al.’s (2004) conceptual model of quality of life for family caregivers of stroke survivors, the caregiving situation (e.g. care recipient dependency, impairment) is thought to directly and indirectly influence caregivers’ quality of life. Appraising caregiving as restrictive and burdensome can negatively affect caregiver quality of life [7], whereas, caregiver confidence in their knowledge about providing care and self-efficacy in the caregiving role have been found to be positively related to caregivers’ quality of life in the domains of vitality (energy and fatigue) and mental health [8]
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