title: Coping as a caregiver: a question of strain and its consequences on life satisfaction and health-related quality of life.
abstract: A majority of us will at some point in our lives take care of family members, relatives and friends in need of assistance. How will this affect us? Strain related to life satisfaction (LS) and health related quality of life (HRQoL) among caregivers aged 60 years and older has not been previously studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective was to describe characteristics of non-caregivers (n=2233) and caregivers (n=369). Further objectives were to examine differences in HRQoL and LS between caregivers and non-caregivers, and between caregivers stratified by level of strain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the differences in socio-demographics, social participation, locus of control and symptoms between groups. HRQoL was assessed by Short Form Health Survey (SF-12/PCS and MCS). LS was measured by the Life Satisfaction Index-A (LSI-A).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers were younger, had more years of formal education, more often cohabiting and relied less on powerful others than non-caregivers. One hundred and thirty-three (36%) caregivers reported high strain. In a three-group comparison including non-caregivers and caregivers stratified for strain, high strain was associated with lower SF12-PCS, SF12-MCS and LSI-A (0.014, <0.001 and <0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High strain affects caregivers' HRQoL and LS in a negative way.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important for the health care sector to consider the possibility that symptoms in a person acting as a caregiver can be related to high perceived strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A general policy program aiming to identify caregivers and their needs for support is much needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Lund University, Sweden CRC, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, Build. 28 Fl. 13, Skåne University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmo, Sweden. Electronic address: beth.dahlrup@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dahlrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Lund University, Sweden CRC, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, Build. 28 Fl. 13, Skåne University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmo, Sweden. Electronic address: henrik.ekstrom@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ekström
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Lund University, Sweden CRC, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, Build. 28 Fl. 13, Skåne University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmo, Sweden. Electronic address: eva.nordell@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nordell
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Lund University, Sweden CRC, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, Build. 28 Fl. 13, Skåne University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmo, Sweden. Electronic address: solve.elmstahl@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Sölve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elmståhl
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Burden; Caregivers; HRQoL; Life satisfaction; Strain