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Based on a sample of 126 families, this study investigated how division of household labor is related to marital satisfaction and caregiving burden among older married parents caring for adult children with intellectual disabilities. For mothers, greater spousal participation in household work and satisfaction with the division of labor were positively related to marital satisfaction. Satisfaction with division of labor also appeared to buffer maternal caregiving stress, decreasing the relationship between behavior problems of the adult child and caregiver burden. For fathers, there was no relationship between division of household labor and marital satisfaction. Behavior problems of the adult child predicted paternal caregiving burden only when men were satisfied with the labor division. Practice implications for professionals working with older caregiving parents are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test a caregiving model of depression in spouses, 31 married couples completed interview and questionnaire assessments of depressive symptoms and caregiving activities. Spouses living with a partner with depressive symptoms had more symptoms of depression themselves. However, this association was found to be fully mediated by spouses’ perceived level of caregiving stress and burden. Results suggest that feelings of stress associated with caring for a depressed spouse may lead to depressive symptoms in the caregiving spouse and should be addressed in treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares patient and spousal perceived support during the cardiac surgery recovery period (1 and 3 months after surgery) and explores the effects of social support on patient/spouse subjective mood states. Significant differences in levels of perceived social support were reported by patients and spouses over time. Social support buffered the impact of caregiving burden on mood disturbance for caregiving spouses but did not significantly impact physical or mental health outcomes for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]