Psychosocial Predictors of Positive Experiences in Caregiving among Family Caregivers in Ghana, A Study in Greater Accra Region

Abstract

Research on positive experiences of caregiving is steadily receiving societal attention. There have been theoretical propositions that values caregivers hold in life shape caregiving experiences. However, these propositions have not seen empirical study, especially within resource-poor contexts. The current study explored factors that shape the lived experiences among family caregivers within Ghanaian context. Data was gathered using a simultaneous mixed-method design with a survey of 120 conveniently sampled informal caregivers and individual interviews with 10 conveniently sampled informal caregivers all within Accra metropolis. Life values were measured with the Life Values Inventory (LVI) and caregiver experiences were measured using the Finding Meaning through Caregiving Scale (FMTCS). The quantitative data was analyzed using MANOVA and series of hierarchical multiple regressions and the qualitative data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analyses (IPA). Findings showed that informal caregivers experience complex sets of psychosocial stress and upliftment simultaneously. Factors which were found to affect the caregivers‘ experiences included conditions suffered by the care receivers, family situations, care receivers‘ own contributions and a surrendering attitude on the part of the caregivers. Male caregivers experience higher levels of negative aspects of care-giving than female caregivers while female caregivers experience higher levels of positive aspects of care-giving than male care givers. Other-focused values predicted positive experiences while self-focus values predicted negative experiences of caregiving. The findings are discussed within the context of developing psychosocial interventions to improve mental health among informal caregivers in Ghana and suggestions made for future research.