Psychological distress among Chinese adult-child caregivers: the effects of behavioral and cognitive components of care.

This study examined the effects of behavioral and cognitive components of care on caregivers' psychological distress among adult children who were the primary caregivers of frail older adults living in the community in Hong Kong. The sample was drawn from a 2008 data set that was used to determine the eligibility for long-term care in Hong Kong. Logistic regressions evaluated the association between caregiver psychological distress and the behavioral and cognitive components of care with a range of covariates. About 35% of the caregivers showed signs of psychological distress. Caregivers who provided more care for instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), demonstrated a greater intensity of care, lived with the care recipient, or became dissatisfied with the amount of support received from other family members and friends were more likely to express psychological distress. Providing emotional support to the care recipient and being unable to continue providing care were negatively associated with psychological distress, after controlling for the sociodemographic status and health status of the care recipient.