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Adult Children’s Caregiver Burden and Depression: The Moderating Roles of Parent–Child Relationship Satisfaction and Feedback from Others

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  • Wei Lin
  • Lung Chen
  • Tsui-Shan Li

Abstract

The issue of elderly care has generated great interest because today, most of us live in an aging society. It has been found that caring for one’s elderly parents is a stressful experience that is related to negative outcomes. In addition, accompanied with the decline in fertility may make adult children feel heavier caregiver’s burden. Therefore, the current study investigates moderators that may help reduce the caregiver burden. Following the conservation of resources theory (COR), we hypothesized that feedback from others and a good parent–child relationship serve as resources that may help the individual manage the stress associated with caring for his or her elderly parents. To examine our hypotheses, we collected data from 502 adult children who were primary caregivers for their elderly parents. All participants completed the Burden Assessment Scale (BAS), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Feedback from Others Scale, and the Parent–Child Relationship Satisfaction Scale. Supporting our prediction, we found a positive correlation between the caregiver’s burden and the caregiver’s levels of depression. Furthermore, both moderation effects were significant. Consistent with our hypotheses, the relationship between caregiver burden and his or her level of depression was weaker when participants had high feedback from others or had a better parent–child relationship. Our findings highlight the view that possessing more resources may help the individual manage the stress associated with caring for elderly parents. Implications for issues related to elderly care are discussed. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Lin & Lung Chen & Tsui-Shan Li, 2013. "Adult Children’s Caregiver Burden and Depression: The Moderating Roles of Parent–Child Relationship Satisfaction and Feedback from Others," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 673-687, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:14:y:2013:i:2:p:673-687
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-012-9348-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anna A. Amirkhanyan & Douglas A. Wolf, 2006. "Parent Care and the Stress Process: Findings From Panel Data," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 61(5), pages 248-255.
    2. Jamila Bookwala, 2009. "The Impact of Parent Care on Marital Quality and Well-Being in Adult Daughters and Sons," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(3), pages 339-347.
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    1. Marie Blaise & Laetitia Dillenseger, 2020. "Informal caregivers and life satisfaction: Empirical Evidence from the Netherlands," Working Papers of BETA 2020-55, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    2. Puzanova, K. (Пузанова, К.), 2015. "Urban Environment and the Cultural Space of Megapolis: A Comparative Study of Social Barriers of Urban Development [Городская Среда И Культурное Пространство Мегаполиса: Сравнительное Исследование ," Published Papers mn58, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
    3. Marie Blaise & Laetitia Dillenseger, 2023. "Informal Caregivers and Life Satisfaction: Empirical Evidence from the Netherlands," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 1883-1930, August.

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