DEMORALIZATION AMONG SONS, DAUGHTERS, SPOUSES, AND OTHER RELATIVES OF NURSING-HOME RESIDENTS

This study examines demoralization among a sample of sons, daughters, spouses, and other relatives of nursing home residents. Various aspects of the caregiving situation-caregiver burden and family members' feelings of guilt and worry about the placement-as well as social support, were significantly related to morale for the sample as a whole. However, when each group of family members was analyzed separately, the predictors of demoralization were found to vary. Spouses were the most vulnerable group, experiencing the highest demoralization. Caregiving-related factors had the greatest impact on demoralization among spouses and relatives other than spouses and adult children.