Psychology

“You can’t do all”: Caregiver experiences of stress and support across ecological contexts

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Caregiver characteristics (i.e., cognitions, affective responses) and factors of stress and support across developmentally salient ecological contexts (i.e., home, school, and community) are important contributors to caregiving quality. Using a qualitative methodology with intentional awareness to reflexivity and the positionality of the research team, the present study sought to examine relations between emergent caregiver characteristics and the ways that caregivers appraised their experiences across contexts. Sixteen biological parents (Mage = 38.8, SD = 6.2; 44% non-Hispanic White, 6% Hispanic White, 19% Black or African American, 12.5% Latinx 12.5% Asian, 6% Syrian; 94% Female) completed in-depth semi-structured interviews and data were analyzed using thematic analysis with an inductive approach. Results highlight the unique roles of caregiver distrust, emotion regulation, developmental history, and culture in the ways that caregivers appraise experiences of stress and support across home, school, and community contexts. Together, these findings provide awareness of the unique relations between caregiver characteristics and context-specific experiences of stress and support, which can enhance our ability to tailor intervention and advise recommendation and dosage of various supports for caregivers and their families.

Publication Title

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Publication Date

2022

Volume

32

First Page

3231

Last Page

3252

ISSN

1062-1024

DOI

10.1007/s10826-022-02488-7

Keywords

caregiver characteristics, ecological contexts, stress, support, thematic analysis

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