Help for the Caring: The Stress, The Value, And the Perceptions of Informal Caregivers (Cover Story‪)‬

Abstract This study consisted of reviewing the empirical literature concerning the effects of being an informal caregiver and the value of informal caregivers. It also examined the perceptions of healthiness and personal control of health, intellectual achievements, self identity, friendships, and careers of three groups of adults: caregivers of children with Juvenile Batten's (JB) Disease, caregivers of individuals with multiple chronic conditions, and adults who are not informal caregivers. The results indicate that informal caregivers do rate their level of personal health lower than adults who are not informal caregivers. Also, caregivers of children with JB Disease believe that other people (e.g., family members, friends, employers, health-care professionals) have more control over the health of the caregivers than non-caregiver adults. Furthermore, adults who believe they have more personal control over different aspects of their lives believe their health is better than adults who do not believe they have as much personal control. The results indicate the need for psychosocial interventions to teach stress-management activities in order to improve their perceptions of personal control.