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Why?
This topic is deeply personal to me, and it is something I am extremely passionate about. I witnessed firsthand how significant caretaking for an individual with dementia can be. My mother became the primary caregiver, adjusting her life to manage my grandmother’s finances, health, and living arrangements. Observing the toll this took on her inspired me to focus on supporting caregivers like my mother. When I began in this class, I knew immediately that I wanted to explore an aspect of dementia that focused not just on the individuals affected, but on the challenges faced by their caregivers.
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The Gap...
When the class began, I reviewed numerous papers and explored various sources. Soon after, I identified a gap in the existing research. While much has been done on topics such as the financial strain of caregiving and the ethical challenges faced by caregivers, I wanted to address an issue with broader implications. This led me to focus on the psychological impacts of caregiving, specifically how these impacts vary depending on an individual’s cultural and ethnic background.
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My Question
After discovering the gap in scientific knowledge, this lead me to my research question: What are the psychological impacts of providing care for an individual with dementia and how are they influenced by one's ethnicity and culture?
Finalizing my Methodology
My methodology will consist of both qualitative and quantitative data. I will use a survey that includes 18 questions, combining both free-response and multiple-choice formats. The survey will be divided into three sections.
Background Information
This section will gather basic demographic information, such as:How old are you?
What is your relationship to the patient?
What is your culture and ethnic background?
Cultural and Ethnic Differences
This section will explore how cultural and ethnic backgrounds influence caregiving practices, with questions such as:In your culture/ethnicity, is caregiving normalized?
How does your culture/ethnic background view a disease like dementia?
Is it common to use formal caregiving institutions in your culture?
Psychological Impacts
The final section will examine the psychological effects of caregiving, with questions like:What psychological effects have you experienced during your current or past caregiving role? (e.g., burnout, depression, coping mechanisms, resilience)
Would you like to elaborate on both the positive and negative experiences you encountered?
This mixed-methods approach will allow me to gather both statistical data and in-depth personal insights into the caregiving experience, particularly in relation to cultural and psychological factors.
Why Should we Care?
My research is important because it aims to better understand the challenges caregivers face, particularly those caring for individuals with dementia. While much is known about caregiving, little research has explored how cultural and ethnic backgrounds influence these experiences. By addressing this gap, my study hopes to offer a broader perspective and contribute to stronger support systems for caregivers, who often endure significant psychological and emotional strain.
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