A resilience perspective on well-being variables of family caregivers of COVID-19 patients

ABSTRACT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, countless Americans found themselves isolated at home, caring for an ill family member who was positive for COVID-19. Caregivers that do not have training in a health or medical profession are referred to as informal caregivers. Informal caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic generally have no prior experience with such a high level of care and uncertainty, leading to significant burden and distress. Evidence presented in recent studies reveal a growing concern about the stressors associated with being a family caregiver (Ferrell et al., 2018). For example, spousal caregivers in the United States reported experiencing a 63% higher death risk than non-spousal caregivers (Jackson, 2015;Panyavin et al., 2015). Isolation and disconnection from resources to help with this strain further influence the toll on caregivers. The current study will build upon previous resilience research, along with research on informal caregivers' experience of burden and distress. Using survey data collected during COVID-19 and a path analytic model, this research seeks to better understand important predictors of resilience and wellbeing in the current pandemic. Specifically, this study aims to determine the impact of practicing internal coping mechanisms such as self-efficacy and optimism, and external coping mechanisms such as preparedness, social connectedness, and lifestyle change while caregiving for someone during the last 30 days of the pandemic. Further, it will analyze how the aforementioned coping mechanisms contribute to resilience and well-being in caregivers. COVID-19 stress will be examined as a moderator to coping and is anticipated to result in less resilience and well-being. As the impact of this virus on different populations still remains largely unknown, this study adds to the limited research on predictors of individual resilience and well-being to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and gives insight into under-analyzed experiences held by caregivers during these challenging times. Results supported that all hypothesized coping variables, optimism, self-efficacy, preparedness, social support, and lifestyle behaviors, have an essential role in maintaining well-being in the face of burden or distress. Additionally, research displayed the importance of positive perspective and behavioral change when performed simultaneously, as well as the critical role internal coping mechanisms play in buffering against COVID-19 stress. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)