Caregiving Appraisal and Life Satisfaction among Informal Caregivers of Elderly People

Description

Page: 285-289

Ritika Pandey and Megha Deuskar (Department of Psychology, Fergusson College (Autonomous), Pune, Maharashtra)

Caring for elderly family members is a multifaceted role that can be emotionally and physically demanding, yet also fulfilling. The present study explores the relationship between informal caregivers’ perceptions of their caregiving experience and life satisfaction, both their own and that of the elderly individuals they care for. The study involved 72 informal caregivers (aged 25-55) and their elderly family members (aged 65+). Researchers used the Caregiving Appraisal Scale (Lawton, 2000) the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 to assess the caregiving experience, life satisfaction, and level of disability in the elderly, respectively. The caregiving appraisal yielded scores across five domains: caregiving burden, satisfaction, guilt, environment, and mastery. Spearman’s correlation revealed a significant positive relationship between caregiving satisfaction and caregivers’ life satisfaction. Furthermore, caregivers’ life satisfaction positively correlated with the life satisfaction of the elderly individuals they cared for. Interestingly, the Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant differences in caregiving appraisal across gender or levels of elderly disability. The study highlights that caregivers who find satisfaction in their role tend to experience greater personal well-being, which in turn positively impacts the well-being of those they care for. Set against the backdrop of India’s shifting demographics and strong cultural emphasis on filial responsibility, the findings underscore both the rewards and the emotional toll of caregiving. The discussion reflects on the cultural significance of caregiving, drawing connections to similar value systems in other societies that view caring for elders as a moral duty.