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Support for the supporters: Family caregivers and intended participation in support groups
Abstract
Family members who serve as primary caregivers for disabled elderly patients often report the role to be stressful and demanding. Support groups are commonly available to family caregivers, but their use of the groups is low relative to the estimated need. The factors which are related to participation in support groups have not been previously studied. In this study, eighty female caregivers to older veteran patients were interviewed to examine factors related to respondents' intention to participate in support groups. A multivariate design and structured interview format were used. The factors predictive of participation identified in the literature were examined; these included recipient functioning, caregiver health and burden, resources available to the family, and respondents' perceived barriers to group participation. In addition, respondents were asked about the benefits they perceived to be associated with participation in support groups. Also included were several factors identified as important by professional staff involved in providing services to patients and family caregivers at the Seattle Veterans Administration Medical Center. Expressed intention to participate in the support group was systematically related to respondents' expectations of group helpfulness and of the number of benefits they would receive from group participation. In addition, respondents' available social support and their perceptions of needing assistance were related to intention to participate. Recipient functioning, caregiver burden, and caregiver depression were not related to intention to participate. Transportation difficulties and lack of information were reported as significant barriers to intended participation. The present findings may assist group leaders and providers of health care in the planning of services for caregivers. The findings indicate that increasing educational efforts for potential group participants, targeting likely participants, and addressing potential barriers to caregivers' group participation may be useful clinical strategies.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy
Recommended Citation
Imig, Janyce, "Support for the supporters: Family caregivers and intended participation in support groups" (1988). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8824935.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8824935