Strain, satisfaction, and hospitalization in caregiver/veteran with heart failure dyads: a secondary analysis

Abstract

Support provided by informal (unpaid) caregivers (CG) contributes to the overall health of Veterans living with heart failure. Using Kramer's model of the caregiving experience, this secondary analysis of 137 dyads examined the prevalence of strain and satisfaction in the CGs, the relationship between and Veteran characteristics and strain and satisfaction, and if CG strain and satisfaction were associated with Veteran self-reported hospitalizations. A total of 70.1 percent CGs were identified as having low strain, with an overall prevalence of CG strain of 88.3 percent. The prevalence for high CG satisfaction was 67.9 percent. The overall multiple regression model for CG strain was significant, F(13, 119) = 12.48, p [less than] .001, R2 = .577, with 57.7 percent of the variance explained by CG age, Veteran self-reported health, CG and Veteran depressive symptoms, CG coping strategies used, CG choice in taking on the CG role, CG sources of/uses unpaid and paid help as well as CG and Veteran perception of the Veteran needing assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. The overall multiple regression model for CG satisfaction was significant, F(4,128) = 9.70, p [less than] .001, R2 = .233, with 23.3 percent of the variance explained by CG perceived quality of the relationship, CG perceived social support, and CG choice in taking on the CG role. CG strain was positively related to Veteran self-reported hospitalizations in the past year (rpbs = .20, p = .022); however, CG satisfaction was not (rpbs = .004, p = .960). These findings have implications for caregiving research and clinical practice.