Caregiving as a Dyadic Process

Abstract

Traditionally, the focus of the caregiving literature has been on the caregiver. Specifically, the caregiving situation is viewed as a potential stressor that might lead to negative outcomes in the caregiver, such as strain, burden, and depression. This concern for negative outcomes seems legitimate, as findings have indeed shown impaired physical and mental health (Hiel et al., 2015) and even a greater risk for mortality within a four-year follow-up period (Schulz & Beach, 1999) in caregivers compared to non-caregiving controls. (Chapter 2 provides a detailed discussion.) However, the caregiving situation inherently includes two persons, that is, a caregiver and a care recipient (Fletcher, Miaskowski, Given, & Schumacher, 2012; Lyons, Zarit, Sayer, & Whitlatch, 2002). A focus on the dyad instead of the individual (i.e., caregiver) provides the opportunity to address important questions that have been largely ignored in caregiving research. For example, the caregiving situation may cause strain to both members of the dyad, and the caregiving situation may influence the relationship between the caregiver and the recipient. Members of the caregiving dyad may have conflicting views about the need for care or how it should be provided, which may in turn affect their emotional and relational well-being. More knowledge about such issues has practical implications for interventions aimed to improve the outcomes of both caregivers and care recipients.