Relationships between caregiving readiness, caregiving burden, and quality of life according to the actor partner interdependence model among caregivers of frail older individuals

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between caregiving readiness, caregiving burden, and quality of life among caregivers of frail older individuals using the Actor Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). Totally 65 older adults and 65 caregivers were included to the study. Data were collected using the Edmonton Frail Scale, Caregiver Burden Scale, and Short Form-36 for older adults aged 65 and above, and Caregiver Information Form, Caregiving Readiness Scale, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS), and Short Form-36 for caregivers. Path analysis was used to analyze the interrelationships among the scales based on the theoretical model of the APIM (Actor Partner Interdependence Model). According to the study findings, the mean scores for the Edmonton Frail Scale, Caregiver Burden Scale, Caregiving Readiness Scale, and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale were determined to be 9,89 (Q1-Q3: 9-11), 48,84 (Q1-Q3: 34-65), 23,01 (Q1-Q3: 18-29), and 42,56 (Q1-Q3: 28-56) respectively. The mean quality of life score for caregivers was lowest in emotional role functioning (39,49 points) and highest in physical functioning (74,38 points). A statistically significant negative relationship was observed between the frailty and caregiving burden scores (p<0.05). Frailty score was found significantly affect emotional role functioning scores of quality of life negatively (Beta=-5,782) (p<0.05). When the covariance relation was examined, a negative relationship was found between caregiving readiness score and caregiving burden score; however, there were statistically significant positive relationships between quality of life dimensions such as pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role functioning, and mental health (respectively; B=-56,409; B=51,124; B=40,779; B=44,773; B=49,415; B=66,689; B=45,369) (p<0.05). Caregiving burden score showed statistically significant positive relationships with quality of life dimensions including physical functioning, physical role functioning, pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role functioning, and mental health (respectively; B=-117,492; B=-166,860; B=-219,437; B=169,313; B=-303,550; B=-280,982; B=-311,393; B=-210,758) (p<0.05). Based on these results, a relationship between caregiving readiness, caregiving burden, and quality of life among caregivers of frail older adults were concluded.