Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


LW.final_diss.pdf (1.09 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Caregiving Burden and Heart Rate Variability: Differences by Race and Gender

Williams, Elizabeth A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1586291354640556

Abstract Details

, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Nursing.
Background: Family members provide care to most people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The unpredictable, cyclical nature of the disorder makes caregiving challenging and burdensome. The caregiving experience can differ by gender and race. Differences in perceived stress have been attributed to race and gender, but there is a paucity of literature on physiological stress responses in caregivers. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among caregiver characteristics (race and gender), psychological stress responses (caregiver burden and caregiver reactions), and physiological stress response (heart rate variability) in caregivers of people with bipolar disorder. Methods: This study was a preliminary analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial conducted in Cleveland, OH. A total of 228 participants (mean age= 52.07; 76% female; 60% White) comprised the sample of this preliminary analysis. Standardized self-report measures of psychological stress responses (caregiver burden and caregiver reactions) were collected. Seven measures of heart rate variability were calculated from electrocardiogram data collected from the w: standard deviation of normal sinus beats (SDNN) and the square root of the mean of the sum of squares of the differences between adjacent normal sinus beats (RMSSD), total spectral power (TP), very low frequency power (VLF), low frequency power (LF), high frequency power (HF), and low to high frequency band ratio (LF/HF). Findings: There were no significant differences in psychological stress responses by gender nor race. However, psychological stress responses trended higher in females than males, but did not reach statistical significance. LnLF, lnLF/HF, lnVLF were significantly lower in African American caregivers compared to White caregivers. Additionally, lnLF/HF was significantly lower in female caregivers compared to male caregivers. There were no significant relationships between psychological and physiological stress responses. Implications: Future research should include heart rate variability (HRV) as a non-invasive autonomic measure to examine racial/gender disparities, physiological stress, and cardiovascular health risks. Additionally, future research should seek to understand demographic and psychological factors that influence HRV and employ interventions to reduce HRV disparities and caregiving burden.
Jaclene A. Zauszniewski (Committee Chair)
Nursing
family caregivers, caregiver stress, caregiver burden, heart rate variability

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Williams, E. A. (2020). Caregiving Burden and Heart Rate Variability: Differences by Race and Gender [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1586291354640556

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Williams, Elizabeth. Caregiving Burden and Heart Rate Variability: Differences by Race and Gender. 2020. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1586291354640556.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Williams, Elizabeth. "Caregiving Burden and Heart Rate Variability: Differences by Race and Gender." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1586291354640556

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1586291354640556
65
© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.