Article
The Importance of Family Relationships With Nursing Facility Staff for Family Caregiver Burden and Depression
Journal of Gerontology
(2007)
Abstract
We explore the association between family caregiver depression and the quality of staff–family relationships, and we test burden as a mediator of this relationship. Using structural equation modeling, we used data from a representative sample of 932 family members from 20 nursing homes in Central New York to examine the association between staff–family relationship quality and family caregiver depression. We then tested family caregiver burden as a mediator of the relationship between staff–family relationship quality and family caregiver depression. Staff–family relationship quality, specifically perceived conflict with staff, is significantly associated with family caregiver depression. Further, caregiver burden mediates this relationship. Interventions to improve staff–family relationships may impact family caregiver depression by reducing the stress that family caregivers experience.
Keywords
- staff-family relationship,
- caregiver depression,
- mediator
Disciplines
Publication Date
September 1, 2007
DOI
10.1093/geronb/62.5.P253
Publisher Statement
To access the full published article, follow the link: https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/62.5.P253
Citation Information
Cory K. Chen, Myra Sabir, Sheryl Zimmerman, Jill Suitor, Karl Pillemer; The Importance of Family Relationships With Nursing Facility Staff for Family Caregiver Burden and Depression. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2007; 62 (5): P253-P260. doi: 10.1093/geronb/62.5.P253