title: A Disproportionate Burden of Care: Gender Differences in Mental Health, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Social Support in Mexican Multiple Sclerosis Caregivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) rates in Latin America are increasing, and caregivers there experience reduced mental and physical health. Based on rigid gender roles in Latin America, women more often assume caregiving duties, yet the differential impact on women of these duties is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined gender differences in mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Zarit Burden Inventory), health-related quality of life (HRQOL; Short Form-36), and social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12) in 81 (66.7% women) Mexican MS caregivers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared to men caregivers, women had lower mental health (p = 0.006), HRQOL (p < 0.001), and social support (p < 0.001). This was partially explained by women caregivers providing care for nearly twice as many hours/week as men (79.28 versus 48.48, p = 0.018) and for nearly three times as many months (66.31 versus 24.30, p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because gender roles in Latin America influence women to assume more substantial caregiving duties, MS caregiver interventions in Latin America-particularly for women caregivers-should address the influence of gender-role conformity on care and psychosocial functioning.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.affiliation: University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Panyavin
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morlett Paredes
authors.affiliation: University of Guadalajara, 44100 Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico ; Instituto Vocacional Enrique Diaz de Leon, 44100 Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguayo
authors.affiliation: University of Guadalajara, 44100 Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Macias
authors.affiliation: University of Guadalajara, 44100 Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico ; Instituto Vocacional Enrique Diaz de Leon, 44100 Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rabago
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra J Fulton
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Picot
authors.affiliation: University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain ; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48007 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arango-Lasprilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult