Social Support, Sense of Belonging, and Communication Technology Use Among Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Middle-Aged and Older Adults
ObjectivesThe objectives of this study are to: (1) describe communication technology use among paid and unpaid middle-aged and older caregivers of adults 50 and older in a natural (non-experimental) setting; and (2) examine the association between communication technology use, perceived social suppo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.898042/full |
| _version_ | 1818208692196081664 |
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| author | Shinduk Lee Shinduk Lee Shinduk Lee Marcia G. Ory Marcia G. Ory Deborah Vollmer Dahlke Deborah Vollmer Dahlke Matthew Lee Smith Matthew Lee Smith |
| author_facet | Shinduk Lee Shinduk Lee Shinduk Lee Marcia G. Ory Marcia G. Ory Deborah Vollmer Dahlke Deborah Vollmer Dahlke Matthew Lee Smith Matthew Lee Smith |
| author_sort | Shinduk Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivesThe objectives of this study are to: (1) describe communication technology use among paid and unpaid middle-aged and older caregivers of adults 50 and older in a natural (non-experimental) setting; and (2) examine the association between communication technology use, perceived social support, and sense of belonging in this population.MethodsMeans and standard deviations, or frequencies and percentages, were used to describe study participants. Chi-square tests or independent sample t-tests were used to compare sociodemographic characteristics, communication technology use, perceived social support, and sense of belonging to the local community between paid and unpaid caregivers. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to predict each outcome (i.e., sense of belonging and social support) based on the use of texting or communication applications.ResultsThe average age of participants was age 64.2 years, and the majority was female (74.8%) and non-Hispanic White (66.9%). Compared to paid caregivers, unpaid caregivers were older (64.5 vs. 62.2 years, p = 0.022) and a larger proportion were non-Hispanic White (70.8% vs. 47.7%, p < 0.001). Nearly 83% of the study participants reported using texting or communication applications (81.5% among paid caregivers and 83.1% among unpaid caregivers, p = 0.718). After adjusting for caregivers' age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education, a significantly higher sense of belonging was observed among paid caregivers than unpaid caregivers (b = 9.40, p = 0.009). After adjusting for caregivers' age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education, the use of texting or other communication applications significantly increased caregivers' perceived availability of social support (b = 0.35, p = 001).ConclusionsThese study results showed a greater sense of belonging to the local community among paid caregivers compared to unpaid caregivers. The use of communication technology was associated with an increased sense of belonging to their local community among paid caregivers, yet the use of communication technology did not contribute to feelings of belonging among unpaid caregivers. In an aging society, both paid and unpaid caregivers are essential elements of the care system. Research is needed to understand the social support needs of paid and unpaid caregivers and the types of interventions to promote social support and community engagement for both groups. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:48:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d94d7d63273642c190e30846ecf856f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T04:48:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d94d7d63273642c190e30846ecf856f92022-12-22T00:37:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-05-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.898042898042Social Support, Sense of Belonging, and Communication Technology Use Among Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Middle-Aged and Older AdultsShinduk Lee0Shinduk Lee1Shinduk Lee2Marcia G. Ory3Marcia G. Ory4Deborah Vollmer Dahlke5Deborah Vollmer Dahlke6Matthew Lee Smith7Matthew Lee Smith8Division of Health Systems and Community-Based Care, College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesCenter for Population Health and Aging, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesCenter for Population Health and Aging, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesDVD Associates LLC, Austin, TX, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesCenter for Population Health and Aging, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesObjectivesThe objectives of this study are to: (1) describe communication technology use among paid and unpaid middle-aged and older caregivers of adults 50 and older in a natural (non-experimental) setting; and (2) examine the association between communication technology use, perceived social support, and sense of belonging in this population.MethodsMeans and standard deviations, or frequencies and percentages, were used to describe study participants. Chi-square tests or independent sample t-tests were used to compare sociodemographic characteristics, communication technology use, perceived social support, and sense of belonging to the local community between paid and unpaid caregivers. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to predict each outcome (i.e., sense of belonging and social support) based on the use of texting or communication applications.ResultsThe average age of participants was age 64.2 years, and the majority was female (74.8%) and non-Hispanic White (66.9%). Compared to paid caregivers, unpaid caregivers were older (64.5 vs. 62.2 years, p = 0.022) and a larger proportion were non-Hispanic White (70.8% vs. 47.7%, p < 0.001). Nearly 83% of the study participants reported using texting or communication applications (81.5% among paid caregivers and 83.1% among unpaid caregivers, p = 0.718). After adjusting for caregivers' age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education, a significantly higher sense of belonging was observed among paid caregivers than unpaid caregivers (b = 9.40, p = 0.009). After adjusting for caregivers' age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education, the use of texting or other communication applications significantly increased caregivers' perceived availability of social support (b = 0.35, p = 001).ConclusionsThese study results showed a greater sense of belonging to the local community among paid caregivers compared to unpaid caregivers. The use of communication technology was associated with an increased sense of belonging to their local community among paid caregivers, yet the use of communication technology did not contribute to feelings of belonging among unpaid caregivers. In an aging society, both paid and unpaid caregivers are essential elements of the care system. Research is needed to understand the social support needs of paid and unpaid caregivers and the types of interventions to promote social support and community engagement for both groups.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.898042/fullcommunication technologysocial supportsense of belongingcaregivingolder adult |
| spellingShingle | Shinduk Lee Shinduk Lee Shinduk Lee Marcia G. Ory Marcia G. Ory Deborah Vollmer Dahlke Deborah Vollmer Dahlke Matthew Lee Smith Matthew Lee Smith Social Support, Sense of Belonging, and Communication Technology Use Among Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Middle-Aged and Older Adults Frontiers in Public Health communication technology social support sense of belonging caregiving older adult |
| title | Social Support, Sense of Belonging, and Communication Technology Use Among Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Middle-Aged and Older Adults |
| title_full | Social Support, Sense of Belonging, and Communication Technology Use Among Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Middle-Aged and Older Adults |
| title_fullStr | Social Support, Sense of Belonging, and Communication Technology Use Among Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Middle-Aged and Older Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social Support, Sense of Belonging, and Communication Technology Use Among Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Middle-Aged and Older Adults |
| title_short | Social Support, Sense of Belonging, and Communication Technology Use Among Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Middle-Aged and Older Adults |
| title_sort | social support sense of belonging and communication technology use among paid and unpaid caregivers of middle aged and older adults |
| topic | communication technology social support sense of belonging caregiving older adult |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.898042/full |
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