Health promotion practices of family caregivers

This study was conducted to assess the relationship of length of time in the caregiving role, amount of care provided, participation in health promotion activities, selected demographic variables, and caregivers' perceptions of their own health. Subjects were 120 adults who were primary caregivers for a frail elder at home. Data were analyzed using frequency statistics, correlational statistics, and multiple regression analysis. Overall, subjects had at least a high school education and were Caucasian. Perceptions of health were negatively associated with amount of care rendered by caregivers, but were not associated with length of time in the caregiving role. Participation in health promotion activities was associated with positive assessments of health. Daughters were most frequently caregivers, but least likely to participate in health promotion activities. Regression analysis revealed that two variables, amount of care given and participation in health promotion activities, accounted for 13% of the variance in perceptions of health; three variables, age, education, and time in the caregiving role, accounted for 18% of the variance in participation in health promotion activities.