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Assessment of self-efficacy for caregiving: The critical role of self-care in caregiver stress and burden

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

Thomas V. Merluzzi ,
Errol J. Philip ,
Dominic O. Vachon  and
Carolyn A. Heitzmann
Thomas V. Merluzzi*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
Errol J. Philip
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
Dominic O. Vachon
Affiliation:
Family Practice Residency Program, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Indiana
Carolyn A. Heitzmann
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Thomas V. Merluzzi, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556. E-mail: tmerluzz@nd.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

Little attention has been given to assessing the importance of self-care and communication in the caregiving setting, especially caregiving for those who are terminally ill. The Caregiver Inventory (CGI), a measure of self-efficacy for caregiving that includes these two dimensions, was subjected to psychometric analyses.

Method:

One hundred and thirty-three primary caregivers completed the CGI; of those, 81 also completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), and a measure of caregiver tasks (ADLR-CG). Based on home visits, social workers also rated the caregiver tasks required (ADLR-SW). Exploratory Factor Analysis, as well as reliability and validity analyses were conducted.

Results:

Fit indices in M + I (V. 5.1) indicated a four factors solution: Managing Medical Information (α = 0.64), Caring for Care Recipient (α = 0.78), Caring for Oneself (α = 0.88), and Managing Difficult Interactions/Emotions (α = 0.76). The CGI was highly negatively related to stress (PSS, r = −0.54, p = 0.001) and burden (CBI, p = −0.37, p = 0.001); ADLR-CG was related to burden (r =  0.43, p = 0.001) but not stress. In regression and relative importance analyses, Care of Oneself and Managing Difficult Interactions/Emotions emerged as equal in terms of having the strongest and most robust negative relationships with stress and burden.

Significance of Results:

Results suggest that the CGI is a reliable and valid measure of self-efficacy for caregiving, and indicate the importance of self-efficacy for self-care and for managing difficult communication in successfully navigating the demands of caregiving for terminally ill persons.

Keywords

CaregiversSelf-EfficacyStressPalliative CareCaregiver Burden
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 15 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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