Psychological Distress of Ethnically Diverse Adult Caregivers in the California Health Interview Survey

This study examined factors associated with psychological distress for culturally diverse family caregivers using a population-based sample. Data were analyzed from the 6634 caregivers of adults (i.e. elderly as well as non-elderly) who self-reported as non-Hispanic White, Mexican, Chinese, or Vietnamese in the 2009 California Health Interview Survey. Simple and multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the potential influence of race/ethnicity, caregiving context, and social contextual variables on psychological distress. Analyses that included moderators showed that while more education was associated with less distress for White caregivers, it was associated with more distress for Vietnamese and Chinese caregivers. Identifying the caregiving and contextual variables associated with psychological distress is critical for tailoring interventions towards those who need the most help—in this case, possibly less educated White caregivers and more educated Asian American caregivers.