Person-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults: a scoping review
Abstract Background Caring for older adults is a dynamic and complex process, and analyzing personal and environmental factors separately fails to capture its full nature. The person-environment fit theory offers a valuable framework to explore interactions between caregivers and their environments....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03657-x |
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| author | Yuting Huang Vivian Weiqun Lou Wenling Zhang Gehao Yang Xiaobo Ke Fan Yang Haochu Li Junyao Zheng Yiyan Zhou Wenjie Li Shihan Lu |
| author_facet | Yuting Huang Vivian Weiqun Lou Wenling Zhang Gehao Yang Xiaobo Ke Fan Yang Haochu Li Junyao Zheng Yiyan Zhou Wenjie Li Shihan Lu |
| author_sort | Yuting Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Caring for older adults is a dynamic and complex process, and analyzing personal and environmental factors separately fails to capture its full nature. The person-environment fit theory offers a valuable framework to explore interactions between caregivers and their environments. This review aimed to synthesize evidence on the person-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults, identify gaps in existing literature, and propose future research directions. Methods The scoping review was conducted following the six-step guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute 2020. A literature search was conducted in June 2024 across seven databases: Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL. Empirical studies published after 2000 regarding the person-environment fit of caregivers for older adults were included. Results A total of 15 eligible articles were included, with nine focusing on formal caregivers and six focusing on informal caregivers. Research on formal caregivers’ person-environment fit often came from human resource management perspectives and was supported by various theories. In contrast, studies on informal caregivers tended to draw from environmental gerontology theories and lacked a systematic analytical model. Most studies used self-designed questionnaires or interviews, with one employing a standard person-environment fit measurement scale. Caregivers’ person-environment fit was analyzed through “demands-abilities fit” and “needs-supplies fit” dimensions, covering various types like person-physical, person-interpersonal, value, goal, and caregiving-life fit. Findings indicated that a high level of person-environment fit was associated with better physical and mental well-being, stronger caregiving commitment, and improved care quality. Conclusion The holistic and dynamic nature of person-environment fit theory is closely aligned with the caregiving process, enhancing our understanding of the experiences of caregivers. Based on existing evidence, this review proposes a theoretical framework for analyzing informal caregivers’ person-environment fit. Further investigation into the theoretical framework of caregiver person-environment fit, along with the development of standardized assessment instruments, will significantly advance the well-being of both caregivers and care recipients. Trial registration Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YV26C . |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-07f02f85e7d242a890e838d8bc331722 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-07f02f85e7d242a890e838d8bc3317222025-08-20T03:42:35ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-08-0124111410.1186/s12912-025-03657-xPerson-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults: a scoping reviewYuting Huang0Vivian Weiqun Lou1Wenling Zhang2Gehao Yang3Xiaobo Ke4Fan Yang5Haochu Li6Junyao Zheng7Yiyan Zhou8Wenjie Li9Shihan Lu10Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong KongDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong KongSau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong KongGraduate School of International Development, Nagoya UniversitySau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong KongSchool of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong KongSchool of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitySchool of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityAbstract Background Caring for older adults is a dynamic and complex process, and analyzing personal and environmental factors separately fails to capture its full nature. The person-environment fit theory offers a valuable framework to explore interactions between caregivers and their environments. This review aimed to synthesize evidence on the person-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults, identify gaps in existing literature, and propose future research directions. Methods The scoping review was conducted following the six-step guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute 2020. A literature search was conducted in June 2024 across seven databases: Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL. Empirical studies published after 2000 regarding the person-environment fit of caregivers for older adults were included. Results A total of 15 eligible articles were included, with nine focusing on formal caregivers and six focusing on informal caregivers. Research on formal caregivers’ person-environment fit often came from human resource management perspectives and was supported by various theories. In contrast, studies on informal caregivers tended to draw from environmental gerontology theories and lacked a systematic analytical model. Most studies used self-designed questionnaires or interviews, with one employing a standard person-environment fit measurement scale. Caregivers’ person-environment fit was analyzed through “demands-abilities fit” and “needs-supplies fit” dimensions, covering various types like person-physical, person-interpersonal, value, goal, and caregiving-life fit. Findings indicated that a high level of person-environment fit was associated with better physical and mental well-being, stronger caregiving commitment, and improved care quality. Conclusion The holistic and dynamic nature of person-environment fit theory is closely aligned with the caregiving process, enhancing our understanding of the experiences of caregivers. Based on existing evidence, this review proposes a theoretical framework for analyzing informal caregivers’ person-environment fit. Further investigation into the theoretical framework of caregiver person-environment fit, along with the development of standardized assessment instruments, will significantly advance the well-being of both caregivers and care recipients. Trial registration Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YV26C .https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03657-xPerson-environment fitFormal caregiverNursingInformal caregiverScoping reviewOlder adults |
| spellingShingle | Yuting Huang Vivian Weiqun Lou Wenling Zhang Gehao Yang Xiaobo Ke Fan Yang Haochu Li Junyao Zheng Yiyan Zhou Wenjie Li Shihan Lu Person-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults: a scoping review BMC Nursing Person-environment fit Formal caregiver Nursing Informal caregiver Scoping review Older adults |
| title | Person-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults: a scoping review |
| title_full | Person-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Person-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Person-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults: a scoping review |
| title_short | Person-environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults: a scoping review |
| title_sort | person environment fit of formal and informal caregivers for older adults a scoping review |
| topic | Person-environment fit Formal caregiver Nursing Informal caregiver Scoping review Older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03657-x |
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