Aspects of perceived competency: A study of husbands and wives as caregivers for confused and not confused spouses
Abstract
This study sought to examine the spousal caregiving system in search of factors which contribute to the caregiver's perceived competence in performing daily tasks of caregiving. The maintenance of a competent caregiver is vital in preventing the breakdown of the caregiving system. Three concepts comprise the focus of this project: a comparison of caring for a confused versus a not-confused spouse, the caregiver's sex-role orientation (masculinity/femininity) and the marital relationship itself. Questionnaire data was collected from 23 husbands and 41 wives providing full-time care for 25 confused and 39 not-confused spouses. The major findings of conceptual interest are: (a) power resources such as youth, health, masculinity and economic well-being are correlated with perceived competence; (b) the marital relationship is negatively affected when the carereceiver is confused; (c) providing care for a confused spouse is predictive of less competence; and (d) having a masculine sex-role orientation is predictive of greater perceived competence. The results of this research suggest that interventionists seek to assist caregivers in the development of both the nurturant and management sides of their personalities so that caregivers can more successfully maintain the complete caregiving system.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Altergott, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Gerontology|Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology
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