RESUMO
In Japan, there is a high incidence of family members caring for their elderly. To facilitate this, caregivers often quit their jobs, work reduced hours, and forfeit leisure activities. This study examined the relationship between the mental health of the caregivers and the sacrifices and adjustments they make to care for the elderly. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with responses from 171 caregivers. Referencing Pearlin's stress process model, the relationship among five types of work change, four types of leisure activity quitting, caregivers' subjective care burden, and depression were analyzed using t-test and multiple regression analysis. Caregivers who quit their work or other home activities had significantly more daily living care responsibilities than those who did not. Moreover, caregivers who gave up leisure activities had a greater sense of subjective care burden than those who did not. The experience of giving up peer activities and taking leave of absence from work was significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms. Being a part-timer or financially prosperous was associated with good mental health. To support family caregivers, it is essential to reduce the burden of long-term care and provide financial help and an environment where they interact with their peers, and their moods can be enhanced.
RESUMO
Cuidado Subjetivo refere-se a todo cuidado dispensado em função de um indivíduo em sua singularidade e que vai além do investimento voltado ao seu bem-estar físico. Buscou-se investigar, através da percepção de três educadores sociais de instituições de acolhimento, a forma como o cuidado subjetivo se apresenta em seu cotidiano de trabalho. Neste estudo qualitativo, descrito e exploratório, discute-se sobre quais as demandas reais do acolhimento institucional na atualidade e identificam-se quais os pontos que aparecem como constituintes, especialmente no que se refere às noções de cuidado que permeiam o trabalho nestes locais. Os resultados revelam uma ideia de cuidado bastante atrelada à aprendizagem e superficial no que se refere ao cuidado específico com o indivíduo, o que parece surgir como reflexo dos valores contemporâneos, das construções sociais e de seu consequente impacto no regulamento das instituições.
Subjective care refers to all care dispensed to an individual in its uniqueness and that goes beyond his physical well-being investment. We sought to investigate, through the perception of three social educators from host institutions, how the subjective care is present in their daily work. In this qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, we discuss about what are the real demands of residential care today and identifies the points that appear as constituents, especially with regard to the care notions that pervade the work in these places. The results reveal a perception of care quite linked to learning and superficial in relation to the specific care of the individual, which seems to emerge as a reflection of contemporary values, social construction and its consequent impact on the regulation of institutions.
