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As the number of kinship families continues to grow, so does the need to support them. Kinship caregivers often face numerous challenges and barriers as they raise children that they had not expected to be responsible for. This is especially the reality for caregivers raising a child with a disability, who must navigate more complex systems and are likely to require additional services and support. Existing literature on kinship care has shown that caregiving can negatively impact caregivers’ overall health and stress levels. However, few studies have focused specifically on kinship caregivers raising children with disabilities or examining how this affects caregiver health and well-being. To address this gap, the present study compares well-being outcomes between kinship caregivers raising a child with a disability and those who are not. Additionally, the study examines factors associated with caregiver well-being, with the aim of strengthening the resilience of kinship caregivers and families.
Methods:
This study used data from a national kinship survey of 186 caregivers aged 20 to 88. Among them, 82 caregivers were raising a child with a disability, 96 were not, and 8 did not provide an answer to that question. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression was used to examine the relationship between raising a child with a disability and their health (i.e. physical health, mental health, and overall health) and stress outcomes. A sensitivity analysis using propensity score adjustment was also conducted and yielded consistent results. The models controlled for caregivers’ demographic characteristics and caregiving experiences.
Results:
Caregivers raising a child with a disability reported significantly lower physical health (1.15 points lower, p < 0.05), mental health (1.69 points lower, p < 0.01), and overall health (3.37 points lower, p < 0.01) compared to those not raising a child with a disability. They also reported significantly higher stress levels (3.53 points higher, p < 0.01). Several control variables were significantly associated with caregiver health outcomes. Compared to those who had been caregiving for less than one year, caregivers with 5–10 years or 10+ years of caregiving reported worse physical health, mental health, and overall health. Receiving more financial assistance was associated with poorer physical and overall health (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), while higher income was associated with better physical, mental, and overall health (p < 0.05). Experiencing more barriers was linked to worse physical, mental, and overall health (p < 0.05), as well as higher stress (p < 0.01). Additionally, negative life experiences were significantly associated with higher stress (p < 0.001).
Conclusions and Implications:
Findings from this study suggest that raising a child with a disability adds significant challenges for kinship caregivers, contributing to poorer health outcomes and increased stress. More support and services should specifically target kinship caregivers raising a child with a disability. Tailored interventions focusing on mental health, financial assistance, and trauma-informed services for those with adverse life experiences may be especially effective in reducing caregiver burden.