THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AGE, CAREGIVING BURDEN, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND ADAPTATION OF CAREGIVERS OF OLDER PERSONS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Abstract

This study was a descriptive study aimed at studying the relationship between age, caregiving burden, social support, and adaptation of caregivers of older persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Subjects were caregivers of older persons with COPD. A total of 88 COPD patients were outpatients receiving care at one of the university hospitals in Bangkok. Data collection was done using a Personal information questionnaire for older persons and caregivers, a Caregiving burden form, a Social support questionnaire, and an Adaptation of caregivers form. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used for data analysis.

The study found that subjects had an average age of 50.35 years old, with medium caregiving burden (M = 41.30, SD = 9.42), high social support (M = 129.34, SD = 20.36), and medium adaptation of caregivers (M = 144.14, SD = 16.53). A relationship analysis found that caregivers age was correlated to adaptation of caregivers of older persons with COPD with no statistical significance (r = 0.008, p = 0.92). Caregiving burden had a negative relationship regarding; adaptation of caregivers of older persons with COPD, with a statistical significance (r = -0.481, p < 0.01), and social support had a positive relationship with adaptation of caregivers of older persons with COPD, with a statistical significance (r = 0.546, p < 0.01).

This study can be applied as a focus for promoting good social support for caregivers and lessening caregiving burden, while allowing caregivers to effectively adapt to caregiving for older persons with COPD.