Abstract

The aims of this study was to investigate the effect of using day care center on stress and physical health of family caregivers of demented patients. One hundred ninety nine (24 males and 175 females) family caregivers of demented patients was 50s in their age. The employed survey instruments were Novak & Guest's Multidimensional Caregiver Burden Inventory, Chon's Physical Symptom Questionnaire, and Hahn & Jang's Perceived Health Inventory. The results showed that family caregivers who used day care center reported lower physical symptoms as well as time-dependant stresses, existential stresses, and service related stress than non-user. Caregivers' stresses were positively related to physical symptoms, while time-dependant stresses and existential stresses were negatively related to perceived health. The caregivers' stress was significant predictor of both physical symptoms and perceived health. The caregivers' stress, using day care center, and period of caring the patient accounted for 37% of variance of physical symptoms. And, the stress and physical health of family caregivers of demented patients and day care service were discussed with these results and previous studies. (Korean J Str Res 2008;16:401∼408)

• Keywords: Stress, Dementia, Health, Family caregivers, Day care center;