Abstract
This study examines stress-buffering effects of coping strategies among caregivers for Japanese impaired elderly. Eight hundred thirty-two valid responses obtained from primary caregivers of impaired persons aged 65 years old and over living in the community were analyzed. A path model was constructed with physical disability and cognitive impairment of the elderly as the primary stressor, caregiving captivity as the secondary stressor, followed by burnout. Main and interaction effects of five coping strategies were examined by regression analysis with interaction terms between the primary stressor, the secondary stressor, and five coping strategies. Four main effects of coping strategies were found: “Diversion” decreased caregiving captivity; “Keeping their own pace, ” “Positive acceptance of caregiving role, ” and “Diversion” decreased burnout. Two buffering effects were found: “Diversion” decreased caregiving captivity only at low level of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) impairment; “Keeping their own pace” buffered the detrimental effects of caregiving captivity for burnout.
