The relationships of self-care agency and self-care actions to caregiver strain as perceived by female family caregivers of elderly parents

Abstract

The relationships of self-care agency and self-care actions to perceived caregiver strain among female family caregivers of elderly parents were examined in this descriptive correlational study. The length of time in the caregiver role, the quantity of multiple roles, and types of caregiving tasks performed by the caregiver were examined with the self-care variables to note their association with caregiver strain. This study was based on Orem's (1991) conceptual model. A convenience sample of 131 primary caregivers completed. The Burden Interview, Denyes Self Care Agency Instrument and Denyes Self Care Practice Instrument by mail survey. Significant findings show an inverse relationship between self-care agency and caregiver strain; self-care actions mediated relationships between household tasks, emotional support, and caregiver strain; the moderating effects of multiple roles on self-care actions increased caregiver strain, and the moderator effects of personal care tasks on self-care actions decreased caregiver strain. These findings suggest the need for nurses to educate caregivers to use effective self-care actions and to assess for factors that may influence caregivers and affect caregiving outcomes.