Abstract
The sample of this study consisted of 140 informal caregivers who provided care to the older adults(over 60
years of age) in Great Cleveland, USA. Self-rated questionnaires were utilized to collect information. The purpose of
the study was to identify coping strategies most frequently utilized by informal caregivers of older adults and to
examine predictors of the caregivers' health responses to the caregiving situation applying Lazarus and Folkman
stress model(1984). Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify significant predictors among caregivers'
demographic-socio-economic factors, older adult's dependency of activities of daily living(ADLs), caregiver's
appraisal to the caregiving situation, and coping strategies.
Informal caregivers (N=140) included in the study utilized help-seeking and problem-solving coping strategies
more than self-blame and minimization of threat coping strategies. Caregivers' responses to the caregiving situation were
observed by caregivers' perceived physical health, depression and life satisfaction.
For perceived physical health, threat appraisal, older adult's dependency on ADLs, existential growth coping strategy,
and monthly income accounted for 25% of the variance. Caregivers who appraised the caregiving situation as more
threatening, reported higher dependency on ADLs, used more existential growth coping strategy, and had higher
monthly income reported better physical health. For depression, threat appraisal, stress appraisal, existential growth
coping strategy, self-blame coping strategy, and monthly income accounted for 48% of the variance. Caregivers who
used more existential growth coping and less self-blame coping, appraised the situation as less threatening, less
stressful, and had higher monthly income reported less depression. For life satisfaction, self-blame coping, existential
growth coping, monthly income, stress appraisal accounted for 49% of the variance. Caregivers who used more
existential growth coping, less self-blame coping, less stress appraisal, lower monthly income reported better life
satisfaction.
In conclusion, informal caregivers in this study utilized positive coping strategies such as problem-focused,
existential growth, help-seeking, rather than negative coping strategies including self-blame. When they utilized positive
coping strategies more often, caregivers experienced higher perceived physical health, higher life satisfaction and
lower depression. Therefore, nursing intervention which utilized positive coping strategies is needed to enhance
informal caregivers to have positive health responses to the caregiving demands.