Social Support Networks Among Black Caregivers of Persons With Memory Problems

Abstract

Positive social support can predict health outcomes in populations that experience significant burdens, such as minority caregivers. The purpose of the current study was to detail the social network (SN) of 36 Black family caregivers (FCGs) for persons with memory problems (PWMP) and examine differences in SN support depending on FCG gender and relationship to the care recipient. Participants were recruited from the Alzheimer's family program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the local community. FCGs were categorized into adult children (ACH), grandchildren and in-law children, and friends and other relatives. FCGs described the amount of adequate support they receive for different types of support from their SN. Female FCGs reported higher levels of support overall, with the largest effect sizes including social ( d = 0.63), emotional ( d = 0.64), and financial ( d = 0.38) support. The largest effect size comparison of caregiver relationship type was in social support, with the ACH group reporting the lowest levels of adequate social support compared to the other two groups ( d = 0.48). Findings suggest that different types of Black FCGs face unique challenges depending on their gender and familial relationship to the care recipient. [ Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50 (1), 22–29.]