The impact of informal and formal care disruption on older adults’ psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK

Novi, Cinzia Di; Martini, Gianmaria; Sturaro, Caterina

doi:10.1016/j.ehb.2023.101242

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…This isolation may also include exposure to challenging behavioral problems, for example in adults with dementia or drug-related disorders. Second, many caregivers experienced that much needed services (e.g., respite care and day centers) were severely restricted or closed during periods of high infection rates and lockdown restrictions (Di Novi, Martini & Sturaro, 2023;Eurocarers, 2021). Third, many caregivers were also left without access to their usual support systems (e.g., friends and colleagues, volunteer support), community-based resources (e.g., cafes and swimming pools), and leisure activities (e.g., choir or exercise groups) (Lightfoot, Yun, Moone et al, 2021;Onwumere et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies are mostly based on data from the beginning of the pandemic, small convenience samples, and cross-sectional retrospective selfreports. First, there is Norwegian and international evidence that caregivers, especially women, reported increased caregiving time and intensity during the pandemic (Eurofound, 2022;Opinion, 2021;Truskinovsky, Finlay & Kobayashi, 2022;Zwar, K€ onig & Hajek, 2021, 2023. For example, a pan-European study of long-term carers shows that caregiving time increased in all countries, and that women increased their mean weekly hours of care (from 48 to 57) more than men (from 39 to 45) (Eurocarers, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These patterns likely mitigate risks for female caregivers in particular. Conversely, the pandemicrelated restrictions could lead to a drastic change of habitual arrangements and thus cause immense distress to caregivers usually relying on formal structures to support them, especially regarding the more intimate and comprehensive personal care tasks (Daatland, Herlofson & Lima, 2011;Di Novi et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Emerging costs in a “hidden” workforce: The longitudinal psychosocial effects of caregiving during the COVID‐19 pandemic among Norwegian adults

Hansen,

Hynek,

McMunn

et al. 2023

Scandinavian J Psychology

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During COVID‐19 many informal caregivers experienced increased caregiving load while access to formal and informal support systems and coping resources decreased. Little is known about the psychosocial costs of these challenges for an essential yet vulnerable and “hidden” frontline workforce. This study explores and compares changes in psychosocial well‐being (psychological well‐being, psychological ill‐being, and loneliness) before and across up to three stages of the COVID‐19 pandemic among caregivers and non‐caregivers. We also examine predictors of psychosocial well‐being among caregivers during the peak of the pandemic. We use longitudinal data collected online in the Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey (age: 18–92) in four counties and up to four data points (n = 14,881). Caregivers are those who provide care unpaid, continuous (≥ monthly across all time points) help to someone with health problems. Findings show that levels of psychosocial well‐being first remained stable but later, during the peak stages of the pandemic, dropped markedly. Caregivers (13–15% of the samples) report lower psychosocial well‐being than non‐caregivers both before and during the pandemic. Caregivers seem especially vulnerable in terms of ill‐being, and during the peak of the pandemic caregivers report higher net levels of worry (OR = 1.22, p < 0.01) and anxiety (OR = 1.23, p < 0.01) than non‐caregivers. As expected, impacts are graver for caregivers who provide more intensive care and those reporting health problems or poor access to social support. Our study findings are valuable information for interventions to support caregivers during this and future pandemics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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