Ethnic Differences in the Caregiving Experience: Implications for Interventions

Martin Pinquart, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Developmental Psychology and Center for Applied Developmental Science, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
Silvia Sörensen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.

Due to the aging of society and the increase in ethnic diversity, there is a growing interest in the needs of ethnically diverse caregivers for older adults. Based on a recent meta-analysis, this article outlines ethnic differences in caregiving stressors, available social resources, and caregiver health. We offer suggestions on how to consider ethnic differences in the planning and implementation of caregiver interventions.
Key words: family caregivers, ethnicity, stress, burden, depression.