Mapping the Caregiver Experience: Predicting Dimensions of Caregiver Strain Through Task-Based Profiles

Abstract

Objective: Family caregiving is a prevalent, diverse, and often challenging experience. We develop caregiving activity profiles to better understand how sets of care-tasks contribute to various aspects of strain. Methods: Using diary data from a survey of 213 family caregivers in the U.S., we perform latent class analysis to group commonly occurring care-related tasks into activity profiles. We then use these classifications to predict physical, financial, and emotional strain. Main Findings: We identified 4 unique activity profiles based on a set of 36 daily caregiving activities performed. Activity profiles varied significantly across the three analyzed strain dimensions. Conclusion: Activity profiles present opportunities to better understand how caregiving tasks are related to specific types kinds of caregiving strain.