DEMORALIZATION AMONG SONS, DAUGHTERS, SPOUSES, AND OTHER RELATIVES OFNURSING-HOME RESIDENTS

This study examines demoralization among a sample of sons, daughters, spouses, and other relatives of nursing home residents. Various aspect s of the caregiving situation-caregiver burden and family members' fee lings of guilt and worry about the placement-as well as social support , were significantly related to morale for the sample as a whole. Howe ver, when each group of family members was analyzed separately, the pr edictors of demoralization were found to vary. Spouses were the most v ulnerable group, experiencing the highest demoralization. Caregiving-r elated factors had the greatest impact on demoralization among spouses arid relatives other than spouses and adult children.