Resilience and typologies of caregiving experiences among family caregivers of older adults with disabilities in China

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to establish a typology of family caregivers of older adults with disabilities by simultaneously assessing positive and negative caregiving experiences in a Chinese context, and to investigate how resilience distinguishes these types. METHOD: Data were collected in Changchun city, China from August to September 2024 using a stratified sampling method. A total of 431 family caregivers of older adults with disabilities participated in the study, yielding a response rate of 87.60%. Latent profile analysis was conducted for classification. Subsequently, a multinomial regression analysis using a three-step covariate inclusion approach was conducted to examine the impact of resilience on the classification, after controlling for covariates. RESULTS: A three-class solution was identified in the latent profile analysis: 'Satisfied' (69.84%), 'Balanced' (18.79%), and 'Dissatisfied' (11.37%) caregivers. Resilience was found to be a significant determinant of class membership. Higher resilience was associated with significantly lower odds of being in the Balanced or Dissatisfied groups compared to the Satisfied group. Furthermore, spouse and younger caregivers were less likely to be in the Dissatisfied group, while more depressive symptoms and coresidence significantly reduced the odds of belonging to the Satisfied group. CONCLUSION: This study delineates distinct typologies of caregiving experiences among Chinese family caregivers of older adults with disabilities, revealing resilience as a pivotal factor that protects caregivers from less adaptive typology characterized by high caregiving burden and low positive aspects. The findings underscore the necessity of implementing person-centered, strength-based interventions to support this population.