The context of caregiving and well-being outcomes among African and Caucasian Americans.

This study examined the effects of race on caregiving outcomes among 180 African American and white American caregiver/care recipient dyads subsequent to a heart attack. Despite significant bivariate associations with caregiver characteristics, the caregiving situation, attitudes toward care provision, and burden, race had no effect on burden or depression when all caregiving context variables were controlled. Thus, caring for an ailing elder evoked more race similarities than differences. This suggests that some previously established models of cultural and racial differences in caregiving may need to be reconsidered.