FOR THE LOVE OF LAND AND PEOPLE: CULTURAL REASONS FOR PROVIDING CARE TO FAMILY MEMBERS WITH DEMENTIA

摘要

Often referred to as the “invisible minority,” people living in rural Appalachian communities embrace distinct qualities of self-reliance, traditionalism, and strong religious beliefs. The purpose of this study was to examine what role, if any, identification with one’s community plays in beliefs about filial expectations about providing care for a family member with dementia. Thirty-six caregivers living in rural counties of Appalachian Virginia reported on measures of community identity (e.g., “I feel a sense of connection with other people in my community”, “Being from a rural community is a part of who I am”; M = 31.67, SD = 5.59), cultural reasons and expectations for providing care (e.g., “It is what people around here have always done”, “I was raised to believe care should be provided in the family”; M = 28.39, SD = 5.99), and the number of years they had lived in their respective communities (M = 38.58, SD = 21.77). Results from linear regression analyses indicated that community identification was associated with the reasons participants gave for providing care (β = 0.65, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.48), whereas the length of time participants lived in their rural communities was not a significant predictor. Findings suggest that community identification plays an integral role in understanding the beliefs and values of family caregivers living in rural Appalachia. Understanding the importance of community identity is vital for service providers and policymakers as they consider how best to meet the needs of their aging population.