Caregiver strain among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic male caregivers with self-reported chronic health conditions

OBJECTIVES: Caregiver strain often stems from unmet needs and is a risk factor for poor physical and psychological health. This study aims to identify factors associated with caregiver strain among middle-aged and older non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic male caregivers living with one or more chronic conditions.

DESIGN: Data were analyzed from 418 male caregivers collected through Qualtrics Online Panels using an internet-delivered survey instrument (55.7% non-Hispanic Black, 44.3% Hispanic). Three ordinal regression models were fitted to assess factors associated with Caregiver Strain Scale tertiles: one for all men, one for non-Hispanic Black men only; and one for Hispanic men only.

RESULTS: Similarities and differences were observed between the two groups in terms of factors associated with higher caregiver strain (i.e. lower disease self-management efficacy scores, providing ≥20 h of care per week). Uniquely for Non-Hispanic Black male caregivers, higher caregiver strain was associated with living with more children under the age of 18 ( β  = 0.35, P  = 0.011) and feeling more socially disconnected ( β  = 0.41, P  = 0.008). Uniquely for Hispanic male caregivers, higher caregiver strain levels were associated with experiencing lower pain levels ( β  = -0.14, P  = 0.040) and higher fatigue levels ( β  = 0.23, P  < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Findings from this study suggest that non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with chronic conditions have differing caregiving experiences. While bolstering social connectedness and caregiver support services may offset caregiver strain, tailored mental health and disease management programming are needed to meet the specific needs of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic male caregivers.