Similarities and Differences in Caring Burden of Home Dwellers With Partners Suffering From Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or Dementia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore caring burden of cohabitants ( N = 206) having partners with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or dementia in relation to aspects of social support. Caring burden was measured by the Relative Stress Scale and was found to be lower and to change less with severity in the COPD group. In multiple regression analyses, characteristics of the ill partners such as aggressive behaviors, degree of self-reliance, hours they could adequately be alone, in addition to public services, social support or withdrawal from family and friends, and gender of the caregiver were overriding the type of illness. Different factors added to the caring burden of females and males. In the total sample, those factors explained 62.9% of the caring burden, while for females 58% was explained, and 77% for males.