Family, religion, and depressive symptoms in caregivers of disabled elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To explain the variations in depressive symptomatology among primary caregivers of community dwelling activities of daily living disabled elderly and to evaluate the role of family and religiosity on the mental health consequences of caregiving in Spain.


METHODS
Cross sectional study.


METHODS
City of Leganés in the metropolitan area of Madrid, Spain.


METHODS
All caregivers of a representative sample of community dwelling activities of daily living disabled persons, aged 65 and over were approached. The response rate was 85% (n = 194). Depression was assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale.


RESULTS
Controlling for caregivers' income, education, health status, and caregiving stress, religiosity was associated with more depressive symptoms among children caregivers while for spouses the association was negative. Emotional support was negatively associated with depression, but instrumental support was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptomatology is frequent among Spanish caregivers of disabled elderly. This study concludes that religiosity and family emotional support play an important part in the mental health of Spanish caregivers. The role of religiosity may be different according to kinship tie and needs further investigation.
Zunzunegui
M V
MV
Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Granada, Spain.
Béland
F
F
Llácer
A
A
Keller
I
I
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010548:Personal Health Services; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012923:Social Class; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological