Predictors of quality of life in carers for people with a progressive neurological illness: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present research was to determine the predictors of quality of life (QOL) among carers for people living with a chronic degenerative neurological illness, with comparisons of the differences in significant predictors of QOL between illness groups.


METHODS
Psychosocial and economic variables were examined among 192 carers for people living at home with motor neurone disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's, over a twelve-month period, to determine their contribution to the prediction of carer QOL.


RESULTS
Mood was the only consistent predictor of carer QOL across groups; however, marital relationship satisfaction, social support satisfaction, income, and economic pressure significantly predicted carer QOL for at least one of the illness groups, in addition to mood.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings highlight the importance of recognising the varying roles that psychosocial and economic variables play on the prediction of carer QOL within each of these illness groups.
School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Melbourne, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
Elodie J
EJ
O'Connor
Marita P
MP
McCabe
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000339:Affect; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires