A Study on the middle-aged couples' caregiving burden and related variables

중년부부의 노부모 부양부담감과 관련변인 연구

The purpose of this study were to find the general trends of middle-aged couples' caregiving burden, to investigate correlation between husbands and wives, to estimate the differences according to related variables and analyze the effects of significant variables influencing on caregiving burden. The data were obtained from 172 middle-aged couples living in Seoul and Kwangju. The major findings were as follows; 1. Scores of couples' caregiving burden were lower than medium. Especially, husbands' score were higher than wives' in a sense of guilt and haubands' caregiving burden correlated significantly with the wives'. 2. Couples' caregiving burden showed significant differences according to birth order of husband and family life satisfaction was the most differencial in family relationship variables. Social support and family value orientations were also significant variables. 3. The most influencial variable on husbands' caregiving burden was emotional support, and instrumental support on wives'. And life and communication satisfaction were very important variables. So family relationship must be enhanced and social support system's reinforcements are necessary.