Caregiving Across Cultures: Understanding the Interplay of Strain, Self-Perception of Ageing, and Health

Abstract

Awareness of how caregivers see their ageing journey holds significant importance for their health and the care quality they extend. This paper intends to delve into the dynamics of cultural context, caregiving pressure, and their roles in shaping caregivers’ assessments of ageing and health. The research seeks to uncover how various cultural environments shape caregivers’ perspectives and beliefs regarding ageing, as well as how the pressures and challenges of caregiving may influence their health perceptions. A total of 60 spousal caregivers, who are first-generation immigrants in the UK, participated in a cross-sectional survey, consisting of 33 males and 27 females (24 White/European, 24 Chinese, and 12 Asian/Asian British). There was a moderately negative correlation between the self-perception of ageing and caregivers’ strain (r = -.55, p < .001), physical symptoms (r = -.67, p < .001), and low correlation with mental health symptoms (r = -.36, p < .001). The analysis conducted through multiple regression techniques demonstrated that caregivers’ stress, physical complaints, and mental health are consistent predictors of their views on ageing, with the regression equation detailing a significant share of variance in self-perception of ageing (R2 = .56, Adjusted R2 = .53). Cultural background significantly affects self-perception of ageing, revealing notable interactions between gender and cultural background. The General Linear Model was applied to assess the perception of ageing with gender and cultural background. A notable influence was detected, F(2, 59) = 3.50, p = .05, η² = .32, Observed Power = .59. Bonferroni tests conducted later suggested that the White/European group had a markedly higher self-assessment of ageing compared to the other cultural groups, with significant distinctions also apparent among the Asian/Asian British group.