A Stress Process Model of Caregiver Depression in the Health and Retirement Study
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This paper answers the research question, “What factors influence caregiver strain for an adult providing parental care”? Drawing on the stress process model and role theory, the three major conceptual domains of the stress process model and how they relate to caregiving will be reviewed. Social support is one of the mediators of stress which is one of the three domains that is focused on in this study. Role theory is examined, which helps one understand how life becomes complex when unanticipated roles fall upon a person. I also examine some of the major factors that contribute to caregiver strain, including time strain and employment, finances, age, educational level, gender, and race. The 2010 HRS RAND dataset was used to develop the sample pool for this study. The number of African American respondents in this dataset was large enough so I could look at them in their own category to determine how they were specifically affected by being caregivers. A multivariate linear regression model is used for the final analysis of how caregiver strain may be affected by factors that contribute to caregiver strain. The mediating variable, being married, the proxy for social support is statistically significant in its relationship with decreasing caregiver strain. This project found that four of the seven factors being studied—being in the labor force, income, age, and educational level—have an influence on caregiver strain and social support helped alleviate caregiver strain in this set of respondents who care for elderly parents. Future research and policy recommendations are discussed.
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Introduction -- Review of literature -- Methodology -- Results -- Discussion
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M.A.