Motives for caring: relationship to stress and coping dimensions

Although research has highlighted the importance of including cultural factors in the analysis of caregiver stress, little is known about the effects of motives for caregiving on the stress and coping process. This study is aimed at analyzing the dimensional structure of the Cultural Justifications for Caregiving Scale - Revised (CJCS-R), and the effects of motives for caregiving on stressors, caregiver resources and outcome variables.

Dementia caregivers (N = 166) were interviewed and the following variables were assessed: motives for caregiving (CJCS-R), stressors (frequency of behavioral problems), resources (rumination, cognitive reappraisal), and outcomes (depression, anxiety and anger).

A bidimensional structure was obtained for the CJCS-R, and the two factors were labeled Intrinsic and Extrinsic motives for caregiving. Participants were divided into four groups corresponding to four motivation profiles: HIHE = High Intrinsic Motives + High Extrinsic motives; LILE = Low Intrinsic Motives + Low Extrinsic Motives; HILE = High Intrinsic Motives + Low Extrinsic Motives; and LIHE = Low Intrinsic Motives + High Extrinsic Motives. No differences between groups were found in frequency of behavioral problems. Caregivers in the LIHE group had significantly worse consequences on caregiver resources and outcome variables compared to the other groups.

The results support the usefulness of considering motives for caregiving as a multidimensional construct. Analyzing caregivers' motivation profiles may constitute a useful strategy for identifying caregivers at risk. Caregivers scoring simultaneously low on intrinsic motives and high on extrinsic motives may be at particular risk for negative caregiving outcomes.