SOCIAL SUPPORT IN THE CONTEXT OF CAREGIVING - HUSBANDS PROVISION OF SUPPORT TO WIVES INVOLVED IN PARENT CARE

The purpose of this study was to identify ways in which social support is related to the caregiving stress and well-being experienced by adu lt daughter caregivers. The study focused on a specific source of supp ort, caregivers' husbands, and included reports from 126 caregivers an d their husbands. Main and buffering effects of four types of support (emotional and instrumental support provided to the caregiver and to h er parent) were tested, and caregiver's level of optimism,pas controll ed. Results were similar for caregivers' and husbands' accounts of sup port. Buffering effects were found only for physical health, whereas e ffects opposite those predicted by the buffering hypothesis were detec ted for positive affect. A main effect was found in nearly all analyse s of marital satisfaction. No main or buffering effects of support wer e detected for depression. Findings highlight the complexity of suppor tive exchanges by illustrating the simultaneous operation of different types of support and their distinctive impact on the caregiving stres s and well-being relationship.