The hidden patient: chronic physical morbidity, psychological distress, and quality of life in caregivers of older adults

Sambasivam, Rajeswari; Liu, Jianlin; Vaingankar, Janhavi Ajit; Ong, Hui Lin; Tan, Min En; Fauziana, Restria; Picco, Louisa; Chong, Siow Ann; Subramaniam, Mythily

doi:10.1111/psyg.12365

Cited by 39 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Other studies have supported this, showing that informal caregiving for older adults with dementia has a negative effect on the caregivers themselves, such as by increasing loneliness, stress, and social isolation [ 10 , 11 ]; negatively impacting mental and physical health outcomes [ 12 – 14 ]; and impeding financial potential [ 15 ]. Further, caregivers have been found to self-report lower levels of quality of life and health in general when compared to non-caregivers [ 1 , 9 ] and to have chronic physical conditions [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative research of informal caregivers’ personal experiences caring for older adults with dementia in Lithuania

Kontrimienė

Sauserienė

Blaževičienė

et al. 2021

Int J Ment Health Syst

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Background In many communities around the world, informal caregivers of older adults with dementia represent an essential, yet often underappreciated, source of long-term care. The present study aimed to determine the personal experiences of such caregivers, which could be instrumental for developing means of improving the quality of care for both care receivers and their informal caregivers. Methods Five semi-structured focus-group discussions were held. The participants (n = 31) were all informal caregivers of older adults with dementia. The focus-group discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive approach was used, and thematic data analysis was applied. Results Four thematic categories were identified: learning caregiving through personal experience; implications of caregiving on social wellbeing; caregivers’ contradictory emotions regarding care delivery; and addressing challenges regarding care provision. Conclusions This study revealed, among the informal caregivers, a variety of experiences, contradicting feelings, and problem-solving strategies relating to the care of older adults with mental disorders. Becoming an effective caregiver involves professional and psychological development. Developing caregiving skills, supportive environment and positive attitude can help facilitate providing care. Caregiving largely impacts the emotional, physical, and social wellbeing of the person; thus, comprehensive approaches are needed to prevent burnout and associated social disadvantages.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative research of informal caregivers’ personal experiences caring for older adults with dementia in Lithuania

Kontrimienė

Sauserienė

Blaževičienė

et al. 2021

Int J Ment Health Syst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Other researchers have collected health information by asking participants to check a list including a number of conditions. 22 Whilst these studies consistently suggest a higher burden of physical ill-health in caregivers, an earlier meta-analysis of 23 studies found that stronger relationships occurred with elevated levels of stress hormones, attenuation of numbers of antibodies and poorer global reported health than with other objective disease. 20 For some types of health conditions (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between informal caregiving, health and work in the Health and Employment After Fifty study, England

Harris

D’Angelo

Syddall

et al. 2020

European Journal of Public Health

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Background To investigate the prevalence of caregiving and its relationship with work, health and socio-economic circumstances in the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) study. Methods The HEAF study comprises 8134 men and women aged 50–64 years recruited from 24 general practices. Socio-demographic, lifestyle and health characteristics and hours per week giving personal care were elicited by postal questionnaire. Objective clinical information about diagnoses/medications was retrieved from health records. Work-related and health risk factors for intense caring responsibilities (≥20 h/week vs. no hours) were explored using logistic regression with adjustment for age and social class. Results In all, 644 (17%) men and 1153 (26%) women reported caring responsibilities, of whom 93 and 199 were intense caregivers, who were more likely to be socio-economically disadvantaged; less likely to be working and, if combining caring with working (41 men and 90 women), more likely to be part-time/working shifts, than non-carers. Men caring ≥20 h/week were more likely to have COPD and to report musculoskeletal pain, poor/fair self-rated health, depression and sleep problems. Among working women, caring ≥20 h/week was associated with these same health outcomes and also with a doctor-diagnosed mental health problem or musculoskeletal pain in the previous year. Conclusions Caregiving is common and unequal in the HEAF cohort, with more high-intensity informal care provided by those with greater levels of socio-economic deprivation, which could affect their employment and health. Caregivers need support to lead long, healthy lives, rather than becoming care needers themselves. Employers and governments need to take caregiving into account and support it actively.

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“…Being accompanied by parents was associated with a 1.93-fold risk of anxiety. A study in Singapore showed that 52.6% of the caregivers of the elderly (≥60 years) had psychological distress [ 22 ] and experienced multiple negative physical, emotional, social, and financial stressors due to the increased demands in care-giving [ 23 , 24 ]. In addition to the above pressures, visiting scholars also worried about their parents becoming infected with COVID-19, because the elderly have had the highest mortality rate from COVID-19 infection [ 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Chinese Visiting Scholars in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic Assessed by Online Questionnaires

Zhao

Wang

et al. 2020

Med Sci Monit

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Background This study aimed to use online questionnaires to evaluate the factors associated with anxiety and depression in Chinese visiting scholars in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material/Methods Using a cross-sectional design, 311 Chinese scholars visiting 41 states in the United States were interviewed on 20 and 21 April 2020 through WeChat using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire. Results Of these 311 visiting scholars, 69 (22.2%) reported no symptoms of anxiety or depression, whereas 63 (20.3%) reported severe anxiety and 67 (21.5%) reported severe depression. Risk of anxiety was 93% higher in visiting scholars with than without accompanying parents in the US (odds ratio [OR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–3.68) and was 1.72-fold (95% CI, 1.04–2.84) higher in those experiencing stress about family members with COVID-19. Stresses about personal security and return to China on schedule were associated with 1.73-fold (95% CI, 1.03–2.92) and 3.00-fold (95% CI, 1.51–5.95) higher risks of anxiety, respectively. Risks of depression were 1.86-fold (95% CI, 1.14–3.05), 1.84-fold (95% CI, 1.10–3.07), and 3.45-fold (95% CI, 1.72–6.92) higher in visiting Chinese scholars who were than were not experiencing stresses about financial support, personal security and return to China on schedule, respectively. Conclusions Chinese scholars visiting the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced severe psychological distress. Surveys that include larger numbers of visiting scholars are warranted.

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The hidden patient: chronic physical morbidity, psychological distress, and quality of life in caregivers of older adults

Cited by 39 publications

References 27 publications

Qualitative research of informal caregivers’ personal experiences caring for older adults with dementia in Lithuania

Qualitative research of informal caregivers’ personal experiences caring for older adults with dementia in Lithuania

Relationships between informal caregiving, health and work in the Health and Employment After Fifty study, England

Evaluation of Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Chinese Visiting Scholars in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic Assessed by Online Questionnaires

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