Prosocial Behavior in Caregivers to Older Adults with Chronic Conditions

In the United States, 1 in 9 adults 65 years of age and older have Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, there is an urgent need for caregivers to support individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic diseases of aging. However, due to the challenging physical and emotional nature of caregiving, caregivers are at risk for experiencing chronic stress and burnout which can negatively impact the well‐being of both the care recipient and the caregiver. The purpose of the present study is to examine the degree to which currently serving in a caregiving role affects individuals’ capacity to empathize and exhibit prosocial behavior towards others.