Department of Health Sciences,Carleton University.
Can J Aging. 2019 Mar;38(1):59-75. doi: 10.1017/S0714980818000430. Epub 2018 Nov 8.
ABSTRACTInformal caregivers often experience high stress levels with little support, especially in rural settings. With a mixed-methods approach, this research explored experiences of rural informal caregivers, including how social identification as a caregiver, social interactions, and formal and informal coping support related to perceived stress. Major focus group themes (n = 8) included lacking available services, balancing challenges, unmet practical needs, and strong community identity. Survey data (n = 22) revealed that perceived coping support (e.g., having someone to turn to), social interactions, and caregiver identity (e.g., perceiving the role as important to one's self-concept) were associated with lower life upset stress, but only caregiver identity was associated with managing the personal distress and negative feelings associated with caregiving stress. Results suggest that, although available rural services may fall short, other options might alleviate caregiver stress, including facilitating access to coping support, encouraging social interactions, and enhancing caregiver social identity.
摘要 非正式照护者经常面临高压力和较少支持，尤其是在农村环境中。本研究采用混合方法，探讨了农村非正式照护者的体验，包括作为照护者的社会认同、社会互动以及正式和非正式应对支持与感知压力的关系。主要焦点小组主题（n=8）包括缺乏可用服务、平衡挑战、未满足的实际需求和强烈的社区认同。调查数据（n=22）显示，感知到的应对支持（例如，有人可以求助）、社会互动和照护者身份（例如，将角色视为自我概念的重要组成部分）与较低的生活困扰压力相关，但只有照护者身份与管理与照护压力相关的个人困扰和负面情绪相关。结果表明，尽管农村现有服务可能不足，但其他选择可能会减轻照护者的压力，包括促进获得应对支持、鼓励社会互动和增强照护者的社会认同。
