This study focused on the moderating effects of positive appraisal of family caregivers of older people on caregiving burden. In Study 1, 16 original items of the Caregiving Burden Scale and 14 original items of the Positive Appraisal Scale were administered 140 caregivers. By factor analysis, the Caregiving Burden Scale was divided into four subscales named: “Restriction of freedom (Kosoku-kan)”; “Wish to give up caregiving (Genkai-kan)”; “Family trouble (Taijin-katto)”; and “Economic restraint (Keizaiteki-futan)”. The positive appraisal scale was also divided into three subscales named “Caregiving satisfaction (Manzoku-kan)”, “Caregiver's self-growth (Jiko-seicho-kan)”, and “Will to continue-care-giving (Kaigo-keizoku-ishi)”. In Study 2, 306 caregivers completed the Caregiving Burden Scale and Positive Appraisal Scale. The results indicated that; (a) positive appraisal moderated caregiver's wish to give up caregiving (“Genkai-kan”); (b) Caregiving satisfaction (“Manzoku-kan”) was more effective than caregiver's self-growth (“Jiko-seicho-kan”); (c) moderating patterns varied by the combination of stressor, burden and positive appraisal.
