Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Kecia Freeman

Abstract

Little is known about the ways in which caregivers are affected or influenced by their care recipients’ health conditions. Additionally, the meaning of care dependence for caregivers is also understudied. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to examine caregivers’ affection/influence due to the physical and psychosocial health conditions of the individuals for whom they care. Further, the meaning of care dependence, from the perspectives of the caregivers, was sought. The theoretical framework to further this research was Montgomery and Kosloski’s (2009) caregiver’s identity theory The research question addressed the ways caregivers are affected or influenced by the care recipients’ physical and psychosocial health conditions and their meaning of care dependence. Seven caregivers were interviewed for this study. Data were collected using a semistructured interview and thematic analysis led to the identification of five themes: human behavior, needs, concerns, education, and communication. The findings indicated that caregiving can negatively affect the caregivers’ health from different perspectives including emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual. The findings also revealed that care dependence's specific meaning for each caregiver was based on the caregiver’s feelings for the care recipient and their perception of the caring context. The implications for a social change are related to how these findings could influence the regulation of the caregiving industry to avoid seniors and disabled persons’ abuse and enhance policy development leading to caregivers and their care recipients building stronger relationships and experiencing personal growth.

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