Caregiving Burden Among Caregivers of People With Dementia Through the Lens of Intersectionality

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objectives Caregivers may be at different risks of various types of burdens by virtue of their gender and racial/ethnic status. This article explores the differences in caregiving burdens across the intersectionality of race and gender. Research Design and Methods Using Round 5 (conducted in 2015) and Round 7 (conducted in 2017) of National Study of Caregiving and National Health and Aging Trends Study data, the study examined differences in caregiver burdens across and within different gender and racial/ethnic groups, within the realms of financial, emotional, and physical burdens. The sample consisted of 1,206 caregivers who provided services to Medicare beneficiaries. Logistic regressions were performed to assess the 3 types of burdens each subgroup was experiencing. Results Results indicated that within the intersectionality framework, compared to White female caregivers, Black male caregivers were 3.3 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.77–6.22) more likely to experience financial burden, and Black female caregivers were 54% less likely to experience physical burden. Surprisingly, compared to White female caregivers, all the other groups were 37% (95% CI 0.41–0.95) to 71% (95% CI 0.15–0.56) less likely to have emotional burden. Discussion and Implications The findings highlighted that Black male caregivers are experiencing financial burden and White female caregivers are experiencing emotional burden disproportionately. To develop effective interventions and programs for dementia caregivers, a special focus should be put on monitoring the differences in the types of burdens that the above-mentioned population subgroups experience.