Onset aging conditions of adults with an intellectual disability associated with primary caregiver depression.
Caregivers of adults with an intellectual disability experience depressive symptoms, but the aging factors of the care recipients associated with the depressive symptoms are unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze the onset aging conditions of adults with an intellectual disability that associated with the depression scores of their primary caregivers. A cross-sectional survey was administered to gather information from 455 caregivers of adults with an intellectual disability about their symptoms of depression which assessed by a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The 12 aging conditions of adults with an intellectual disability include physical and mental health. The results indicate that 78% of adults with an intellectual disability demonstrate aging conditions. Physical conditions associated with aging include hearing decline (66.3%), vision decline (63.6%), incontinence (44%), articulation and bone degeneration (57.9%), teeth loss (80.4), physical strength decline (81.2%), sense of taste and smell decline (52.8%), and accompanied chronic illnesses (74.6%). Mental conditions associated with aging include memory loss (77%), language ability deterioration (74.4%), poor sleep quality (74.2%), and easy onset of depression and sadness (50.3%). Aging conditions of adults with an intellectual disability (p<0.001) was one factor that significantly affected the presence of depressive symptom among caregivers after controlling demographic characteristics. Particularly, poor sleep quality of adults with an intellectual disability (yes vs. no, OR=3.807, p=0.002) was statistically correlated to the occurrence of significant depressive symptoms among their caregivers. This study suggests that the authorities should reorient community services and future policies toward the needs of family caregivers to decrease the burdens associated with caregiving.
School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Senior Citizen Service Management, Ching-Kuo Institute of Management and Health, Keelung City, Taiwan.
Lan-Ping
LP
Lin
Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung City, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
Shang-Wei
SW
Hsu
School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Meng-Ting
MT
Kuo
Chung-Hua Foundation for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Jia-Lin
JL
Wu
School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan; Centre for Environment and Population Health, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
Cordia
C
Chu
School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan; Chung-Hua Foundation for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Centre for Environment and Population Health, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: a530706@ndmctsgh.edu.tw.
Jin-Ding
JD
Lin
D000375:Aging; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000451:nursing; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000451:nursing
Aging; Caregiver; Depression; Intellectual disability; Mental health; PHQ-9; Patient Health Questionnaire