{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T07:43:29Z","timestamp":1792568609884,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,20]],"date-time":"2026-10-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1792454400000},"content-version":"am","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Background and Objectives<\/jats:title>\n Caregiver burden significantly impedes self-care, often resulting in poor health and increased vulnerability to chronic illness. Despite these risks, the underlying factors influencing caregivers\u2019 self-care remain understudied. This qualitative descriptive study explored the context of caregiver self-care and identified perceived barriers and facilitators to practicing self-care.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Research Design and Methods<\/jats:title>\n We conducted four focus groups with 14 caregivers primarily responsible for providing in-home care to older adults (\u2265 65 years) with chronic illnesses. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. A hierarchical coding system was developed and refined using the focus group guide and preliminary transcript review. Coded transcripts were analyzed using an iterative inductive-deductive thematic approach based on established theories.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n Caregivers\u2019 multi-dimensional definitions of self-care shaped their perceived barriers and facilitators. Three core determinants of self-care behaviors were identified: capability (caregivers\u2019 psychological and physical health, and behavioral regulation); motivation (caregiver identity, emotions, and perceived control); and opportunity (social and environmental influences and resources). Caregivers recognized that self-care deficits negatively affect their clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial outcomes. These results informed the development of a conceptual framework for caregiver self-care.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Discussion and Implications<\/jats:title>\n Findings underscore the importance of integrating caregivers\u2019 own perceptions of self-care into support models. Interventions should transition toward personalized approaches that address both intrinsic psychological drivers and extrinsic environmental constraints. The framework derived from this study provides a theory-driven roadmap that informs future interventions, ensuring support systems align with caregivers\u2019 unique needs and contexts to foster better self-care and ultimately enhance their health outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/geront\/gnag241","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,20]],"date-time":"2026-10-20T11:45:35Z","timestamp":1792496735000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Determinants of Self-Care Practices Among Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Chronic Illness: A Qualitative Descriptive Study"],"prefix":"10.1093","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4234-3576","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Soojung","family":"Ahn","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Connell School of Nursing , , Chestnut Hill, MA,","place":["USA"]},{"name":"Boston College , , Chestnut Hill, MA,","place":["USA"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4046-3408","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kemberlee","family":"Bonnet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Vanderbilt University Department of Psychology, , Nashville, TN,","place":["USA"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-7453-696X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ashley","family":"Sellers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Vanderbilt University Department of Psychology, , Nashville, TN,","place":["USA"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2510-4071","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christopher S","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Connell School of Nursing , , Chestnut Hill, MA","place":["USA"]},{"name":"Boston College , , Chestnut Hill, MA","place":["USA"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6210-070X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mulubrhan F","family":"Mogos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, , Nashville, TN,","place":["USA"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,20]]},"container-title":["The Gerontologist"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/gerontologist\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/geront\/gnag241\/72201364\/gnag241.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"am","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/gerontologist\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/geront\/gnag241\/72201364\/gnag241.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T07:25:51Z","timestamp":1792567551000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/gerontologist\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/geront\/gnag241\/8956102"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,20]]},"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/geront\/gnag241","relation":{},"ISSN":["0016-9013","1758-5341"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0016-9013","type":"print"},{"value":"1758-5341","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,20]]},"article-number":"gnag241"}}