Citation

Hahn EA, Kim G, Chiriboga DA. J. Aging Health 2011; 23(3): 417-432.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0898264310380454

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics associated with becoming a caregiver among Mexican American (MA) elders and to examine predictors of depressive symptoms among the new caregivers 2 years later. Method: Drawn from the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE), 152 MA recent caregivers and 2,023 other MAs were compared. Residualized change regression analysis was conducted. Results: At baseline, MAs who had recently become caregivers exhibited a significantly greater number of depressive symptoms compared to those who had not. Controlling for background characteristics, physical health, social support, and baseline depressive symptoms, regression analysis revealed that 2 years later higher acculturation was related to a greater number of depressive symptoms among those who at baseline were new caregivers. Discussion: Better knowledge of the within-group differences among MA elderly caregivers, especially with respect to acculturation, may better inform interventions for this at-risk group.