Influence of Gender and Care Strategy in Family Caregivers´ Strain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose To analyze the factors that influence the strain on family caregivers of elderly dependent people, relating it to the strategy of care, with a gender perspective. Design Cross‐sectional study. Methods We interviewed 328 Spanish family caregivers in 2012. Main variable: Caregiver Strain Index (CSI). Independent variables: relationship, sex, age, marital status, education level, employment status, socioeconomic status, family and/or institutional supports, time they devote to care, and how long they have been giving care. Data were analyzed using bivariate procedures and multiple linear regression. Findings Caregiver profile: women around 60 years old, housewives, with primary education. CSI average: 6.63 ± 3.36. Female sex, kinship being a son or daughter, housewife employment status, service of home care, and the care recipient being female were significantly associated with the subjective strain. Conclusions Caregivers´ strain has a strong gender component: women are more tired, primarily those that practice a partial care strategy. Clinical Relevance Knowing the factors that predict burden, nurses may help caregivers to provide better care. A risk profile for strain and burden: women who practice a partial care strategy; they are adult women and daughters who do not want to give up their professional role and combine it with their duty of caregiving.