Intergenerational relationships and caregiving burden among family caregivers of older adults: A systematic review

Abstract

Although intergenerational relationships play a significant role in maintaining the well-being of both caregivers and care recipients, few studies have examined how intergenerational relationships influence caregiving burden, especially for adult-child caregivers. A systematic search of electronic databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, was conducted across quantitative studies published in English in 2012 – 2022 to provide a summary of (1) the operationalization of caregiver burden and intergenerational relationships used in this field and (2) the effect of intergenerational relationships on caregiver burden. Intergenerational relationships are rarely defined, and they are operationalized in multiple and diverging ways. The eight included papers showed varying results but generally indicated that intergenerational relationships exert a great influence on caregiver burden. Further examination of the impact of intergenerational relationships on caregiver burden is an indispensable prerequisite for interventions that could positively influence the health outcome of adult-child caregivers.