Factors Associated With Informal Carers’ Preference Not To Be Involved In Caring

Factors associated with a preference not to be involved in informal caring were investigated in a cross-sectional survey of informal care-givers to elderly people (n=108). Carers were identified by a preliminary screening survey of 2,689 members of the general population. Correlational analyses revealed significant associations between a preference to cease caring and age of elderly dependant, behaviour problems, carers’ social support, perceived caring self-competence and care work satisfaction. Hierarchical regression of these five factors explained 42% of variance in the measure of preference not to be involved in caring. The findings suggest that whilst behaviour problems exhibited by elderly dependants are associated with caring intentions, a fuller explanation of caring outcomes requires examination of satisfactions derived from fulfilling the caring role. © 1993, Psychological Society of Ireland. All rights reserved.