title: A Descriptive Systematic Review of Physical Activity Interventions for Caregivers: Effects on Caregivers' and Care Recipients' Psychosocial Outcomes, Physical Activity Levels, and Physical Health.
abstract: Caregiving can adversely impact individuals' psychosocial and physical well-being. An important task in health research is to find effective ways to enhance caregivers' health and functioning.
  
  
  
  To provide a systematic review of the efficacy of physical activity (PA) interventions for caregivers on their and the care recipients' psychosocial outcomes, PA levels, and physical health.
  
  
  
  Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist, a descriptive systematic review of studies examining the effects of PA interventions for caregivers on their outcomes and those of the care recipients was conducted. Studies were primarily identified through searching electronic databases.
  
  
  
  Fourteen studies were reviewed. PA interventions significantly decreased caregivers' distress and increased their well-being, quality of life, sleep quality, PA levels, self-efficacy for caregiving or exercise, and readiness for exercise. Most PA interventions targeted the caregiver alone. Two studies examined the impact of the intervention on the care recipient and found no significant effect.
  
  
  
  PA interventions hold promise in improving caregivers' outcomes. However, more high quality trials are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
authors.affiliation: Ingram School of Nursing, Wilson Hall, 3506 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2A7, Canada. sylvie.lambert@mcgill.ca.|St. Mary's Research Centre, 3830 Avenue Lacombe, Hayes Pavilion, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1M5, Canada. sylvie.lambert@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Sylvie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, 475 Pine Ave West, Montreal, Quebec, H2W 1S4, Canada.
authors.forename: Lindsay R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Ingram School of Nursing, Wilson Hall, 3506 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2A7, Canada.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapellas
authors.affiliation: Ingram School of Nursing, Wilson Hall, 3506 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2A7, Canada.
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bruson
authors.affiliation: Ingram School of Nursing, Wilson Hall, 3506 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2A7, Canada.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Myrand
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, 55 Harbord St., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2W6, Canada.|Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, ELLICSR-Cancer Survivorship Centre, 585 University Avenue, Munk Building, B PMB 130, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santa Mina
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, KNB 240, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Culos-Reed
authors.affiliation: Schulich Library of Science and Engineering, Macdonald-Stewart Library Building, 809 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0C1, Canada.
authors.forename: Angella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambrou
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Caregiver burden; Exercise; Physical activity; Systematic review; Trials