Negative and positive health effects of caring for a disabled spouse: longitudinal findings from the caregiver health effects study.
Data from the first 2 waves of the Caregiver Health Effects Study (n = 680) were analyzed to examine the effects of changes in caregiving involvement on changes in caregiver health-related outcomes in a population-based sample of elders caring for a disabled spouse. Caregiving involvement was indexed by levels of (a) spouse physical impairment, (b) help provided to the spouse, and (c) strain associated with providing help. Health-related outcomes included perceived health, health-risk behaviors, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms. Increases in spouse impairment and caregiver strain were generally related to poorer outcomes over time (poorer perceived health, increased health-risk behaviors, and increased anxiety and depression), whereas increased helping was related to better outcomes (decreased anxiety and depression). Results suggest that caring for a disabled spouse is a complex phenomenon that can have both deleterious and beneficial consequences.
Beach
S R
SR
University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA. scottb@vms.cis.pitt.edu
Schulz
R
R
Yee
J L
JL
Jackson
S
S
D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012309:Risk-Taking; D018454:Spouses