Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Concepts of Burden in Giving Care to Older Relatives: A Study of Female Caregivers in a Mexico City Neighborhood

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined how women in a Mexico City suburb conceptualized the construct of burden within the context of giving care to older relatives. Data were collected on 41 women through semi-structured interviews regarding their caregiving experiences to elderly relatives. Phenomenological principles were used to analyze meanings and understandings of caregiving experiences. Burden was a multi-dimensional construct that referred to specific situations that made caregivers feel emotionally or physical “heavy.” Burden also referred to “being a burden” by being in the way, making things difficult, or being a ‘weight’ on caregivers’ shoulders. However, women in this study also viewed burden as a positive sacrifice that involved love, initiative, and good will. This study is an important first step in defining the ways in which caregiving is positively and negatively meaningful for Mexican caregivers and their families. Our findings offer an additional dimension of caregiver burden to broaden our understanding and measurement of the construct. The development of culturally appropriate instruments to measure caregiving burden in Mexico is necessary to provide an empirical foundation for policy recommendations that address the growing need for institutional support of caregivers. Moreover, our findings suggest that researchers studying caregiving in Mexico should think about how burden is measured on existing instruments before adapting them for widespread use.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abel, E. K. (1991). Methods of studying caregiving. In Who cares for the elderly? Public policy and the experiences of adult daughters pp. 59–71. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcantara-Vazquez, A., Amancio-Chassin, O., Gonzalez-Chavez, A., Hernandez-Gonzalez, M., & Carrillo-Villa, H. (1993). Mortality in geriatric patients in the hospital general of Mexico. Salud Publica de Mexico, 35(4), 368–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bengtson, V. L., Burgess, E. O., & Parrott, T. M. (1997). Theory, explanation, and a third generation of theoretical development in social gerontology. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 52B(2), S72–S88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, H. R. (1995). Research methods in anthropology: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (2nd ed.). Walnut Creek, CA, USA: AltaMira.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blieszner, R., & Hamon, R. R. (1992). Filial responsibility: Attitudes, motivators, and behaviors. In J. W. Dwyer, & R. T. Coward (Eds.) Gender, families and elder care (pp. 105–119). Newbury Park, CA, USA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridges, J. C. (1980). The mexican family. In M. Singh Das (Ed.) The family in Latin America (pp. 295–334). New Delhi: Vikas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chant, S. (2002). Researching gender, families and households in Latin America: From the 20th into the 21st century. Bulletin of Latin American Research, 21(4), 545–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chappell, N. L., & Reid, R. C. (2002). Burden and well-being among caregivers: Examining the distinction. The Gerontologist, 42(6), 772–780.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chumbler, N. R., Grimm, J. W., Cody, M., & Beck, C. (2003). Gender, kinship and caregiver burden: The case of community-dwelling memory impaired seniors. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(8), 722–732.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deeken, J. F., Taylor, K. L., Mangan, P., Yabroff, K. R., & Ingham, J. M. (2003). Care for the caregivers: A review of self-report instruments developed to measure the burden, needs, and quality of life of informal caregivers. Journal of Pain Symptom Management, 26(4), 922–953.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, T. (1992). Making gray gold: Narratives of nursing home care. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkler, K. (1994a). Gender, culture, and society in Mexico. In Women in pain: Gender and morbidity in Mexico pp. 53–73. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkler, K. (1994b). The nature of gender. In Women in pain: Gender and morbidity in Mexico pp. 25–39. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • García, B., & de Oliveira, O. (1997). Motherhood and extradomestic work in urban Mexico. Bulletin of Latin American Research, 16(3), 367–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Given, C., Given, B., Stommel, M., Collins, C., King, S., & Franklin, S. (1992). The caregiver reaction assessment (cra) for caregivers to persons with chronic physical and mental impairments. Research in Nursing & Health, 15, 271–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gold, D. L. (1997). Random house Latin-American spanish dictionary. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, G., Ramcharan, P., McGrath, M., Nolan, M., & Keady, J. (1998). Rewards and gratifications among family caregivers: Towards a refined model of caring and coping. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 42(1), 58–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez Robledo, L. M. (1990). The prospects for the development of geriatrics in Mexico. Salud Publica de Mexico, 32(6), 693–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez-Robledo, L. M. (2002). Looking at the future of geriatric care in developing countries. Journal of Gerontology Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 57(3), M162–M167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez-Robledo, L. M., Reyes-Ortega, G., Rocabado-Quevedo, F., & Lopez-Franchini, J. (1996). Evaluation of long term care institutions for the aged in the federal district. A critical viewpoint. Salud Publica de Mexico, 38(6), 487–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ham-Chande, R. (1996). Aging: A new dimension in health in Mexico. Salud Publica de Mexico, 38(6), 409–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendricks, J. (1996). Qualitative research: Contributions and advances. In R. H. Binstock, & L. K. George (Eds.) Handbook of aging and the social sciences 4th ed (pp. 52–72). San Diego: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, A. (1992). Methodological issues in the study of gender within family caregiving relationships. In J. W. Dwyer, & R. T. Coward (Eds.) Gender, families and elder care (pp. 132–150). Newbury Park, CA, USA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbell, L. J. (1993). Values under siege in Mexico: Strategies for sheltering traditional values from change. Journal of Anthropological Research, 49(1), 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática (1998). Cuaderno estadistico delegacional: Alvaro obregón, distrito federal, edicion 1997. Aguascalientes, Ags: INEGI.

  • Kao, H.-F., & Acton, G. (2006). Conceptualization and psychometric properties of the caregiver burden scale in taiwan. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 27(8), 853–866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, S. (1983). Assessing self-maintenance: Activities of daily living, mobility and instrumental activities of daily living. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 31(12), 721–726.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Dura, J. R., Speicher, C. E., Trask, O. J., & Glaser, R. (1991). Spousal caregivers of dementia victims: Longitudinal changes in immunity and health. Psychosomatic Medicine, 53(4), 345–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, B. J. (1997). Gain in the caregiving experience: Where are we? What next? Gerontologist, 37(2), 218–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lara-Rodriguez, M. A., Benitez-Martinez, M. G., Fernandez-Garate, I. H., & Zarate-Aguilar, A. (1996). Epidemiologic aspects of the aged at the mexican institute of social security. Salud Publica de Mexico, 38(6), 448–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M., Kleban, M., Moss, M., Rovine, M., & Glicksman, A. (1989). Measuring caregiving appraisal. Journal of Gerontology, 44(3), 61–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M. P., Moss, M., Kleban, M. H., Glicksman, A., & Rovine, M. (1991). A two-factor model of caregiving stress and psychological wellbeing. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 46, P181–P189.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeVine, S. E. (1986). Widowhood in los robles: Parent–child relations and economic survival in old age in urban Mexico. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 1, 223–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LeVine, S. E., Sunderland Correa, C., & Tapia Uribe, F. M. (1986). Marital morality of mexican women: An urban study. Journal of Anthropological Research, 42(2), 183–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomnitz, L. (1982). Horizontal and vertical relations and the social structure of urban Mexico. Latin American Research Review, 17(2), 51–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomnitz, L., & Perez-Lizaur, M. (1979). Kinship structure and the role of women in the urban upper class of Mexico. Signs, 5(1), 164–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez, S. C., & Leal, F. G. (2003). Epidemiological transition: Model or illusion? A look at the problem of health in Mexico. Social Science & Medicine, 57(3), 539–550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menchaca Martin, P., & Zonana Nacach, A. (2006). Obesity in mexican children from the northern border. Salud Pública de México, 48(1), 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyashita, M., Yamaguchi, A., Kayama, M., Narita, Y., Kawada, N., Akiyama, M., et al. (2006). Validation of the burden index of caregivers (bic), a multidimensional short care burden scale from japan. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 4(52).

  • Montes de Oca, V. (1998). Política social y sociodemografía de la vejez. El Cotidiano, 88(Marzo–Abril), 49–56.

  • Montgomery, R. J. V., Gonyea, J. G., & Hooyman, N. R. (1985). Caregiving and the experience of subjective and objective burden. Family Relations, 34, 19–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moraes, S. A., Beltran Rosas, J., Mondini, L., & Freitas, I. C. (2006). Prevalence of overweight and obesity, and associated factors in school children from urban area in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico, 2004. Cadernos de Saude Publica, 22(6), 1289–1301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nader, L. (1986). Subordination of women in comparative perspective. Urban Anthropology, 15(3–4), 377–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Health Statistics (2006). Health, united states, 2006 with chartbook on trends in the health of Americans: Hyattsville, MD.

  • Olson, J. L. (1977). Women and social change in a mexican town. Journal of Anthropological Research, 33(1), 73–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oropesa, R. S. (1997). Development and marital power in Mexico. Social Forces, 75(4), 1291–1319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osuna-Ramirez, I., Hernandez-Prado, B., Campuzano, J. C., & Salmeron, J. (2006). Body mass index and body image perception in a mexican adult population: The accuracy of self-reporting. Salud Pública de México, 48(2), 94–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peñalosa, F. (1968). Mexican family roles. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 30(4), 680–688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picot, S. J. F., Youngblut, J., & Zeller, R. (1997). Development and testing of a measure of perceived caregiver rewards in adults. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 5(1), 33–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., & Sorensen, S. (2003). Associations of stressors and uplifts of caregiving with caregiver burden and depressive mood: A meta-analysis. Journal of Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58(2), P112–P128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., & Sorensen, S. (2005). Ethnic differences in stressors, resources, and psychological outcomes of family caregiving: A meta-analysis. Gerontologist, 45(1), 90–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., & Sorensen, S. (2006). Gender differences in caregiver stressors, social resources, and health: An updated meta-analysis. Journal of Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 61(1), P33–P45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., & Sorensen, S. (2007). Correlates of physical health of informal caregivers: A meta-analysis. Journal of Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 62(2), P126–P137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitkin, K., & Bedoya, R. (1997). Women’s multiple roles in economic crisis: Constraints and adaptation. Latin American Perspectives, 24(4), 34–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robles-Silva, L. (2000). The caregiver phenomenon: An invisible result of aging. Paper presented at the Mexican Society of Demography 6th National Meeting on Demographic Research. A.C. El Colegio de México, Mexico City.

  • Schulz, R., & Beach, S. R. (1999). Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: The caregiver health effects study. Journal of the American Medical Association, 282(23), 2215–2219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, R., Newsom, J., Mittelmark, M., Burton, L., Hirsch, C., & Jackson, S. (1997). Health effects of caregiving: The caregiver health effects study: An ancillary study of the cardiovascular health study. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 19(2), 110–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze, B., & Rössler, W. (2005). Caregiver burden in mental illness: Review of measurement, findings and interventions in 2004–2005. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 18, 684–691.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serrano-Aguilar, P. G., Lopez-Bastida, J., & Yanes-Lopez, V. (2006). Impact on health-related quality of life and perceived burden of informal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroepidemiology, 27, 136–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spurlock, W. R. (2005). Spiritual well-being and caregiver burden in Alzheimer’s caregivers. Geriatric Nursing, 26(3), 154–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staton, R. D. (1972). A comparison of Mexican and Mexican-American families. The Family Coordinator, 21(3), 325–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A. L., & Corbin, J. (1994). Grounded theory methodology: An overview. In N. K. Denzin, & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.) Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 273–285). Thousand Oaks, CA, USA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stull, D., Kosloski, K., & Kercher, K. (1994). Caregiver burden and generic well-being: Opposite sides of the same coin? Gerontologist, 34(1), 88–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taub, A., Andreoli, S. B., & Bertolucci, P. H. (2004). Dementia caregiver burden: Reliability of the brazilian version of the zarit caregiver burden interview. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 20(2), 372–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNIFEM. (2000). Progress of the world’s women 2000. New York, NY.

  • Unikel-Santoncini, C., Bojorquez-Chapela, I., Villatoro-Velazquez, J., Fleiz-Bautista, C., & Medina-Mora Icaza, M. E. (2006). Risky eating behaviors in student population in Mexico city: Trends 1997–2003. Revista de Investigación Clínica, 58(1), 15–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (2002). World population ageing: 1950–2050. New York: UN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varley, A., & Blasco, M. (1999). Reaping what you sow? Older women, housing and family dynamics in urban Mexico. In United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) (Ed.), Ageing in a gendered world: Women’s issues and identities (Vol.). Santo Domingo: INSTRAW.

  • Varley, A., & Blasco, M. (2000). Intact or in tatters? Family care of older women and men in urban Mexico. Gender and Development, 8(2), 47–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vázquez-Nuttall, E., Romero-Garcia, I., & De Leon, B. (1987). Sex roles and perceptions of femininity and masculinity of hispanic women: A review of the literature. Psychology Of Women Quarterly, 11(4), 409–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitaliano, P., Young, H. M., & Russo, J. (1991). Burden: A review of measures used among caregivers of individuals with dementia. Gerontologist, 31(1), 67–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitaliano, P., Young, H. M., & Zhang, J. (2004). Is caregiving a risk factor for illness? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13(1), 13–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitaliano, P., Zhang, J., & Scanlan, J. M. (2003). Is caregiving hazardous to one’s physical health? A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 129(6), 946–972.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willis, K. (1993). Women’s work and social network use in Oaxaca City, Mexico. Bulletin of Latin American Research, 12(1), 65–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarit, S. H. (2004). Family care and burden at the end of life. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 170(12), 1811–1812.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarit, S. H., Reever, K. E., & Bach-Peterson, J. (1980). Relatives of the impaired elderly: Correlates of feelings of burden. Gerontologist, 20(6), 649–655.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarit, S. H., Todd, P. A., & Zarit, J. M. (1986). Subjective burden of husbands and wives as caregivers: A longitudinal study. Gerontologist, 26(3), 260–266.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Financial support for this research was received from the Organization of American States PRA Fellowship No. F56870; the U.S. Dept of State Fulbright US Student Program; the Mexico-US Educational Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange; and, the UCLA Center for Health Improvement in Minority Elders/Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research, NIH/NIA, Grant 3 P30 AG 021684. The authors wish to thank Spero Manson and Jeffrey Luck for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, 21-275B CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA

    Carolyn A. Mendez-Luck

  2. UCLA Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Carolyn A. Mendez-Luck & Steven P. Wallace

  3. 1776 Main St., RAND, 90407-2138, Santa Monica, CA, USA

    David P. Kennedy

  4. UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Steven P. Wallace

  5. Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, Box 957143, 10960 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1550, Los Angeles, 90095-7143, CA, USA

    Steven P. Wallace

Authors
  1. Carolyn A. Mendez-Luck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David P. Kennedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Steven P. Wallace
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carolyn A. Mendez-Luck.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mendez-Luck, C.A., Kennedy, D.P. & Wallace, S.P. Concepts of Burden in Giving Care to Older Relatives: A Study of Female Caregivers in a Mexico City Neighborhood. J Cross Cult Gerontol 23, 265–282 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-008-9058-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-008-9058-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation