Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations.
This study surveyed 101 Asian-American caregivers of elderly people on factors that influence perceived caregiver burden. Spirituality was found to be a statistically significant predictor of caregiver burden. Furthermore, mental health help-seeking attitudes were negatively correlated with caregiver burden. This research informs OTs of the value of incorporating spirituality and mental health education with family caregivers to provide holistic, culturally competent services.
Primary Author and Speaker: Yan-hua Huang
Additional Authors and Speakers: Ciara Nagao, Kelsey Michelle Santos, and Madison Werchowsky
PURPOSE: Asian Americans are more likely than other ethnic groups to take on the role of caring for their elderly family members and are less likely to seek mental health support from a professional. Since caregiving has been positively associated with increased mental health challenges, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to caregiver burden in Asian Americans. The purpose of the study is to investigate how spirituality and mental health help-seeking attitudes correlate with perceived feelings of caregiver burden in Asian American caregivers.
DESIGN: This quantitative survey research recruited participants through convenience and snowball sampling methods. Criteria for participation included those who identify as Asian Americans and provide routine care to an older family member of at least one generation above them. Routine care was defined as assistance with at least one Activity of Daily Living (ADL) or Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL).
METHOD: Five assessments including the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, Spirituality Scale, Expression of Spirituality Inventory-Revised (Cognitive Orientation Toward Spirituality and Religiousness subscales), Mental Help Seeking Attitudes Scale, and the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale were utilized in an online survey to collect data on levels of caregiver burden, spirituality and mental health help-seeking attitudes. Additionally, demographic data was collected. To test the research hypotheses, Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient (Pearson's r) and multiple regressions were run to examine the relationships between spirituality and perceived caregiver burden as well as help-seeking behavior and perceived caregiver burden for Asian American caregivers.
RESULTS: 101 Asian American caregivers were surveyed with 86% female and a mean age of 45.4 years old. The results suggest that there is a negative relationship between feelings of caregiver burden and self-reported spirituality and between caregiver burden and mental help seeking attitudes. One-tailed Pearson's correlation coefficient yielded significant low negative correlations between caregiver burden and spirituality, r(99) = -.28, p < .01, as well as caregiver burden and mental help-seeking attitudes, r(99) = -.27, p < .05. Statistically significant low negative correlations were yielded between caregiver burden and spiritual religiousness, r(99) = -.21, p < .05. Additionally, the number of tasks the caregiver provided assistance with and spirituality were significant predictors for caregiver burden. Multiple regression with stepwise analysis revealed that the number of tasks requiring caregiver assistance and spirituality scores were statistically significant predictors of caregiver burden scores, b = .47, t(98) = 5.56, p < .001; b = -.31, t(98) = -3.69, p < .001. Number of tasks and spirituality scores explained a statistically significant proportion of variance in caregiver burden scores, R
2 = .30, F(2,98) = 20.92, p < .001.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that spirituality may be an important protective factor against Asian American caregivers' burden. Furthermore, Asian American caregivers who have less positive attitudes toward seeking mental help may be more likely to have higher levels of caregiver burden. This study opens up opportunities for occupational therapists to further research the predictive relationship of spirituality on caregiver burden. Lastly, this supports the integration of spirituality practice and education of mental health services within occupational therapy services to ultimately promote more holistic, culturally relevant, family-centered care.
References
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