Abstract
Context
Navigating end-of-life is stressful and many caregivers feel unprepared for caregiving
tasks. Being employed may further increase caregiver burden.
Objectives
Study objectives were 1) to examine the relationships among caregiver burden (financial
burden, daily schedule disruption, lack of family support) and mental health (depression
and anxiety), and 2) explore if preparedness for caregiving mediates these relationships
in employed hospice caregivers.
Methods
This was a secondary analysis of baseline data from a prospective multi-site project
of hospice family caregivers of cancer patients. Employed hospice caregivers (n = 166) completed items assessing burden, mental health, and preparedness for caregiving.
Hierarchical linear regression and mediation analysis were conducted.
Results
Caregivers were primarily White (n = 155, 93%) and female (n = 116, 70%), with a mean age of 55 (SD = 11.7). After controlling for demographic
variables, financial burden was significantly related to anxiety (b =.16[.001, .32],
P <.05), lack of family support was significantly related to depression (b = 1.27[.76,
1.79], P <.01), and daily schedule disruption was significantly related to both anxiety (b = 1.92[1.07,
2.77], P <.01), and depression (b =.70[.14, 1.26], P <.05) in regression analyses. In mediation analysis, financial burden, daily schedule
disruption, and lack of family support were indirectly related to both depression
and anxiety through preparedness for caregiving.
Conclusion
To better support employed caregivers, hospice team members should be ready to address
concerns about finances, daily schedule changes, and family support and screen for
preparedness for caregiving. Developing strategies to help employed hospice caregivers
feel more prepared may mitigate adverse mental health outcomes.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 19, 2021
Accepted:
August 10,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
