Influence of environmental factors on well-being and care burden of elderly family caregivers: a bayesian structural equation modeling approach

Introduction/Background In Japan, the magnitude of the care burden and difficulties with continuity of in-home care among elderly caregivers have been reported, but support systems for elderly family caregivers remain insufficient. This study aimed to test a hypothetic model holding that environmental factors influence elderly family caregivers’ well-being and care burden. Material and method Participants were 60 family caregivers of elderly people with care needs who were aged ≥60 years (24 men and 36 women; mean age, 75.7 ± 8.9 years). The study was approved by the Kibi International University Ethical Review Board (No. 17-16). Participants underwent a demographic survey, the Comprehensive Environmental Questionnaire (CEQ), a short version of the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview, and the Visual Analogue Scale of Happiness, and the generated hypothetical model was assessed by means of Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling (BSEM). Results When the hypothetical model was assessed using BSEM, environmental factors were found to influence the well-being more strongly (standardized coefficient [sc] = .406) than the care burden (sc = −.377). Factor loading of environmental factors was largest in family environment, followed by secure living environment, and interactive environment. In addition, the gender of the caregiver also influenced the care burden (sc = −.324) and well-being (sc = −.275). The posterior predictive P -value of the final model was 0.170. Conclusion This study assessed a hypothetic model holding that environmental factors influence elderly family caregivers’ well-being and care burden, and that the gender of the caregiver is a covariate. Women's care burden was strong, while men's well-being was low. Accordingly, by supporting an interactive environment, a secure living environment, and a family environment as mapped by the CEQ, it may be possible to improve the well-being and mitigate the care burden of elderly family caregivers.