Health of adult caregivers of the older person and intergenerational family relationships

Relationships between key concepts in the two generational family system, perceived stress, and the current health of the caregiver of the older person were tested. Additionally, path analysis techniques were used to evaluate the adequacy of the proposed theoretical framework. The theoretical propositions tested were: (1) The greater the intergenerational family relationships of the adult caregiver of the older person, the less the perceived stress in the adult caregiver of the older person. (2) The greater the intergenerational family relationships of the adult caregiver of the older person, the greater the current health of the adult caregiver of the older person. (3) The greater the decrease in the perceived stress by the adult caregiver of the older person, the greater the current health of the adult caregiver of the older person.

Questionnaires were mailed throughout the United States to caregivers of persons 55 years of age or older. An available sample resulted in 76 questionnaires which were used in the study.

Participants completed four questionnaires: (a) the Demographic Form designed by the researcher; (b) the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire (Bray et al., 1984); (c) the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (Cohen et al., 1983); and (d) the Current Health Self-Report Inventory (Davies & Ware, 1981).

In the study, the alpha coefficients on the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire subscales ranged from.56 to.95. On the Perceived Stress Questionnaire Cronbach's alpha was.89 and on the Current Health Scale Cronbach's alpha was.91.

Utilizing path analysis techniques the major concepts identified were intergenerational family relationships, perceived stress and current health. The two direct paths to current health were spousal intimacy and perceived stress. There were four indirect paths to current health. The indirect paths to current health were: (1) Spousal intimacy through spousal fusion through perceived stress to current health. (2) Spousal intimacy through perceived stress to current health. (3) Intergenerational intimidation through perceived stress to current health. (4) Intergenerational fusion/individuation through perceived stress to current health.