Spouse versus other family caregivers: psychological impact on impaired aged

This correlational study examined negative affect among impaired aged who live with and receive care from either a spouse or a younger relative. Covariance analyses, controlling for group differences in age, health, and functional disability, soundly disconfirmed hypotheses that spouses' care would prove less stressful than would that of children. In fact, the reverse obtained for measures of number of expressed worries, negative affect toward caregivers, and perceptions of both negative affect and negative behavior of caregivers toward elderly respondents. The two care groups did not, however, differ in self-rated depression or in feelings of dependency upon care providers. Examination of social support indices revealed that Spouse and Other care groups differed only in number of other household residents who assist with health care activities; this variable was, however, unrelated to affect measures. Results are discussed in terms of differential stressors upon aged couples in contrast with recipients of second-generation relatives' assistance, and of kinship factors which may influence elders' perceptions and affect.