INFORMAL CAREGIVING TO PERSONS WITH AIDS IN THE UNITED-STATES - CAREGIVER BURDEN AMONG CENTRAL CITIES RESIDENTS 18 TO 49 YEARS OLD

Characteristics and caregiving experiences of friends and family membe rs caring for people with AIDS (PWAs) were examined. Based on a probab ility sample of informal AIDS caregivers ages 18-49 living in central cities of the United States (n = 260), analyses were conducted to (a) identify the sociodemographic characteristics of young central city ca regivers; and (b) examine the effects of caregiver characteristics (re lationship to PWA, gender race/ethnicity income sexual orientation HIV status, perceived susceptibility), and level of objective caregiving demands, on subjective caregiver burden. Results indicate that the lar gest group of caregivers in this age category are male friends of the PWA-a group not typically found among caregivers to persons with other types of illnesses. In general, gay or bisexual caregivers, caregiver s who have traditional family ties to the PWA, men relative to women, and lower income caregivers, report the greatest burden. While level o f caregiving demands represents the most influential predictor of care giver burden, white and male caregivers experience greater burden, ind ependent of level of involvement and other caregiver characteristics. Receiving instrumental support with caregiving buffers the impact of h igh objective demands on subjective burden.