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Influence of Neuroticism, Ethnicity, Familism, and Social Support on Perceived Burden in Dementia Caregivers: Pilot Test of the Transactional Stress and Social Support Model

¹ VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.
² Department of Psychology and Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Address correspondence to Dr. Gia Robinson Shurgot, Older Adult and Family Center, 795 Willow Rd. (182C/MP), Menlo Park, CA 94025. E-mail: giars{at}stanford.edu

In this study we assessed the new transactional stress and social support model, postulating the role of neuroticism, ethnicity, familism, and social support in perceived burden in dementia caregivers. We used a convenience sample (N = 77) of African American and White dementia caregivers. Results substantiated interrelationships among social support variables, and the influence of perceived positive social support on burden. Neuroticism was related to the perception of positive social support and burden. Results corroborated the model, focusing on neuroticism and quality of social support in modeling perceived burden in family caregivers. Findings call attention to the role of presumably long-standing individual differences in neuroticism that influence caregiver appraisals of stress and social support.