Abstract
This study provides in-depth, descriptive data on the caregiving context and indicators of caregiving stress, rewards, and resources reported by 300 African-American family caregivers of elders residing in the community. Findings revealed generally high levels of caregiving intensity in terms of types of assistance given and hours of caregiving provided. On average, participants reported moderate levels of time-dependence, developmental, and financial burden, but relatively low levels of social and physical burden and emotional and relationship distress. Caregivers also reported high levels of caregiving rewards, including meaning, purpose, and connection/attachment to the care recipient. In terms of resources, both informal and formal levels of support were generally low, while religion/spirituality emerged as an important resource for the majority of the sample. Finally, findings show higher levels of approach versus avoidant coping strategies. Although some commonalities among participants were noted in these areas, close examination of the dispersion of scores in all areas reveals a multifaceted and diverse picture of the caregiving experience, suggesting caution against oversimplification or reliance on general assumptions when providing services to African-American caregivers. This article concludes with four key implications for effective and culturally sensitive social work practice with this heterogeneous population and notes directions for future research.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-19 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- African-American
- caregivers
- elderly
- resources
- rewards
- stressors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Education
Cite this
"Caring for One's Own" : Variation in the Lived Experience of African-American Caregivers of Elders. / Sheridan, Michael J.; Burley, Jeronda; Hendricks Sloan, Danetta; Rose, Theda.
In: Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, Vol. 23, No. 1, 01.01.2014, p. 1-19.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - "Caring for One's Own"
T2 - Variation in the Lived Experience of African-American Caregivers of Elders
AU - Sheridan, Michael J.
AU - Burley, Jeronda
AU - Hendricks Sloan, Danetta
AU - Rose, Theda
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - This study provides in-depth, descriptive data on the caregiving context and indicators of caregiving stress, rewards, and resources reported by 300 African-American family caregivers of elders residing in the community. Findings revealed generally high levels of caregiving intensity in terms of types of assistance given and hours of caregiving provided. On average, participants reported moderate levels of time-dependence, developmental, and financial burden, but relatively low levels of social and physical burden and emotional and relationship distress. Caregivers also reported high levels of caregiving rewards, including meaning, purpose, and connection/attachment to the care recipient. In terms of resources, both informal and formal levels of support were generally low, while religion/spirituality emerged as an important resource for the majority of the sample. Finally, findings show higher levels of approach versus avoidant coping strategies. Although some commonalities among participants were noted in these areas, close examination of the dispersion of scores in all areas reveals a multifaceted and diverse picture of the caregiving experience, suggesting caution against oversimplification or reliance on general assumptions when providing services to African-American caregivers. This article concludes with four key implications for effective and culturally sensitive social work practice with this heterogeneous population and notes directions for future research.
AB - This study provides in-depth, descriptive data on the caregiving context and indicators of caregiving stress, rewards, and resources reported by 300 African-American family caregivers of elders residing in the community. Findings revealed generally high levels of caregiving intensity in terms of types of assistance given and hours of caregiving provided. On average, participants reported moderate levels of time-dependence, developmental, and financial burden, but relatively low levels of social and physical burden and emotional and relationship distress. Caregivers also reported high levels of caregiving rewards, including meaning, purpose, and connection/attachment to the care recipient. In terms of resources, both informal and formal levels of support were generally low, while religion/spirituality emerged as an important resource for the majority of the sample. Finally, findings show higher levels of approach versus avoidant coping strategies. Although some commonalities among participants were noted in these areas, close examination of the dispersion of scores in all areas reveals a multifaceted and diverse picture of the caregiving experience, suggesting caution against oversimplification or reliance on general assumptions when providing services to African-American caregivers. This article concludes with four key implications for effective and culturally sensitive social work practice with this heterogeneous population and notes directions for future research.
KW - African-American
KW - caregivers
KW - elderly
KW - resources
KW - rewards
KW - stressors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84893312309&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84893312309&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15313204.2013.849642
DO - 10.1080/15313204.2013.849642
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84893312309
VL - 23
SP - 1
EP - 19
JO - Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work
JF - Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work
SN - 1531-3204
IS - 1
ER -