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Burden and well-being among caregivers: examining the distinction
Chappell NL, Reid RC.. The Gerontologist, 2002-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Purpose This study assessed overall quality of life of caregivers, using a path model in which burden was conceptualized as distinct from well-being. Design and methods Data were drawn from a representative sample of caregivers to dementia and nondementia care receivers in British Columbia, Canada (N = 243). The model used was based on a previously proposed stress/appraisal path model and used multiple regression path estimates. Primary stressors were care receiver cognitive status, physical function, and behavioral problems; the primary appraisal variable was hours of caregiving during the previous week. Mediators were perceived social support, frequency of getting a break, and hours of formal service use; secondary appraisal was subjective burden. The outcome measure was generalized well-being. Results Well-being was directly affected by four variables: perceived social support, burden, self-esteem, and hours of informal care. Burden was affected directly by behavioral problems, frequency of getting a break, self-esteem, and informal hours of care and was not affected by perceived social support. Discussion The finding that perceived social support is strongly related to well-being but unrelated to burden reinforces the conceptual distinctiveness of the latter two concepts. This suggests that quality of life of caregivers could be improved even with burden in their lives and that the overwhelming focus in caregiving research on burden should be supplemented with an emphasis on quality of life.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Chappell, N. L., & Reid, R. C. (2002). Burden and well-being among caregivers: examining the distinction. The Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/42.6.772
Vancouver
Chappell NL, Reid RC. Burden and well-being among caregivers: examining the distinction. The Gerontologist. 2002. doi:10.1093/geront/42.6.772. PMID: 12451158.
BibTeX
@article{chappell2002-12451158,
author = {Chappell, N. L. and Reid, R. C.},
title = {{Burden and well-being among caregivers: examining the distinction}},
journal = {The Gerontologist},
year = {2002},
doi = {10.1093/geront/42.6.772},
pmid = {12451158},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/42.6.772}
}
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Key findings
- Purpose This study assessed overall quality of life of caregivers, using a path model in which burden was conceptualized as distinct from well-being.
- Results Well-being was directly affected by four variables: perceived social support, burden, self-esteem, and hours of informal care.
- This suggests that quality of life of caregivers could be improved even with burden in their lives and that the overwhelming focus in caregiving research on burden should be supplemented with an emphasis on quality of life.
Why it matters
In 243 caregivers, this study found well-being was directly affected by social support, burden, self-esteem and hours of informal care, and that burden and well-being are distinct. It suggests caregiver quality of life can improve even with burden present, but offers no treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants243
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 57 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 59 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Gerontologist) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Gerontologist: journal h-index 238 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2002 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 243 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 378 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 14.5 citations a year over 26 year(s) since 2002 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 19.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 28 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Victoria: institution h-index 649 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12451158) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 57 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 57 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 59 out of 100. |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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