Caregiving stress among family caregivers of older adults living with disabilities in China

•Family caregivers of Chinese older adults living with disabilities are experiencing extensive caregiving stress.•Family caregivers providing nine or more hours of care per day reported higher levels of caregiving stress than those who provided fewer than nine hours of care per day.•Caregivers who experienced insufficient care abilities, economic hardships, and time conflicts were more likely to report caregiving stress. This study aimed to describe caregiving stress among family caregivers of Chinese older adults living with disabilities, and explore how care intensity, financial expenses, and care difficulties are associated with caregiving stress. Data of 220 older adult-caregiver dyads were collected from 6 urban districts and 6 rural counties from Shandong province, China. Descriptive analyses and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed. Family caregivers providing nine or more hours of care per day reported higher caregiving stress than those who provided fewer than nine hours. Caregivers who experienced insufficient care abilities, economic hardships, or time conflicts were more likely to report caregiving stress. Financial support provided to older adults was not associated with caregiving stress. Family caregivers of Chinese older adults with disabilities are experiencing excessive caregiving stress. Social support groups and China's long-term care insurance system should be promoted to better assist family caregivers.