Date Presented 04/04/2025
This study determined predictors associated with health-related quality of life (QOL) among Filipino-American caregivers of older adults. The results indicated that higher levels of perceived distress and burden are predictors of lower QOL.
Primary Author and Speaker: Yan-hua Huang
Additional Authors and Speakers: Alyanna Kayla Malinis Paulino, Tracy Bao Nguyen, Giselle Ventus Santos
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine health-related quality of life (QOL) predictors among Filipino-American caregivers of older adults. Current research on Asian-American caregivers’ QOL has reported that their QOL is poor (Huang et al, 2021), however there is a lack of research disaggregating Asian caregivers within their ethnic groups, specifically among Filipinos. No study has assessed if there is a correlation between Filipino-American caregivers of older adults on their mental health QOL (Bhimla et al, 2017).
DESIGN: This quantitative survey research design recruited Filipino-Americans who provide formal and/or informal caregiving to older adults.
METHODS: Participants were recruited through the use of physical and digital flyers. The WHOQOL-BREF, Caregiver Self-Assessment Questionnaire, Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale, Role Overload Scale, and the Caregiving Distress Scale were utilized to evaluate study participants’ levels of caregiver burden, role overload, and role distress in relation to their QOL. Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze data.
RESULTS: Results were obtained from 213 participants, where 36.6% were female and 62% were male. 59% of participants received their bachelor’s degree, and 73% were married. Higher levels of perceived distress and higher perceived burden were statistically significant predictors to having lower health-related quality of life (p < .05).
CONCLUSION: The results from this study emphasize the need for tailored interventions and support programs to address the unique challenges faced by Filipino-American caregivers of older adults. Future research could explore additional factors influencing QOL, such as cultural beliefs and the effect of familial relationships and social support networks to develop more comprehensive interventions for improving the well-being of this demographic group.
References
Bhimla, A., Yap, L., Lee, M., Seals, B., Aczon, H., & Ma, G. X. (2017). Addressing the health needs of high-risk Filipino Americans in the Greater Philadelphia Region. Journal of Community Health, 42(2), 269–277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0252-0
Gavino, R. M., Donato, A. M., & Panotan, G. V. (2023). The concept of utang na loob among Filipino working millenials. Formosa Journal of Social Sciences (FJSS), 2(3), 369–396. https://doi.org/10.55927/fjss.v2i3.4572
Huang, Y., Nagao, C. A., Santos, K. M. B., & Werchowsky, M. I. (2021). Asian-American caregivers: Factors that influence caregiver burden. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(Supplement_2), 7512510270p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.75s2-rp270
Martínez, A., Co, M., Lau, J. Y. F., & Brown, J. (2020). Filipino help-seeking for mental health problems and associated barriers and facilitators: a systematic review. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 55(11), 1397–1413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01937-2
