Laura Hiel1, Mariëlle A Beenackers2, Carry M Renders3, Suzan J W Robroek4, Alex Burdorf4, Simone Croezen4. 1. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 2. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.beenackers@erasmusmc.nl. 3. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; EMGO(+) Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In Europe, the demand for informal care is high and will increase because of the ageing population. Although caregiving is intended to contribute to the care recipient's health, its effects on the health of older European caregivers are not yet clear. This study explores the association between providing informal personal care and the caregivers' health. METHOD: Data were used from the longitudinal cohort (2004/2005-2010/2011) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (n=7858). Generalized estimating equations were used to explore the longitudinal association of informal care and the caregiver's health using poor self-rated health (less than good), poor mental health (EURO-D score for depression ≥4), and poor physical health (≥2 health complaints). RESULTS: Providing informal personal care was significantly associated with poor mental health (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.04-1.47) and poor physical health (OR=1.18, 95% CI=1.01-1.38), after adjusting for various socio-demographic and health-related factors. No statistical significant association was found for self-rated health in the adjusted models. CONCLUSION: Providing informal personal care may negatively influence the caregiver's mental and physical health. More awareness of the beneficial and detrimental effects of caregiving among policy makers is needed to make well-informed decisions concerning the growth of care demands in the ageing population.
OBJECTIVE: In Europe, the demand for informal care is high and will increase because of the ageing population. Although caregiving is intended to contribute to the care recipient's health, its effects on the health of older European caregivers are not yet clear. This study explores the association between providing informal personal care and the caregivers' health. METHOD: Data were used from the longitudinal cohort (2004/2005-2010/2011) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (n=7858). Generalized estimating equations were used to explore the longitudinal association of informal care and the caregiver's health using poor self-rated health (less than good), poor mental health (EURO-D score for depression ≥4), and poor physical health (≥2 health complaints). RESULTS: Providing informal personal care was significantly associated with poor mental health (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.04-1.47) and poor physical health (OR=1.18, 95% CI=1.01-1.38), after adjusting for various socio-demographic and health-related factors. No statistical significant association was found for self-rated health in the adjusted models. CONCLUSION: Providing informal personal care may negatively influence the caregiver's mental and physical health. More awareness of the beneficial and detrimental effects of caregiving among policy makers is needed to make well-informed decisions concerning the growth of care demands in the ageing population.
Authors: Sylvie Bonin-Guillaume; Sylvie Arlotto; Alice Blin; Stéphanie Gentile Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-09 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Carmen B Franse; Judith Ac Rietjens; Alex Burdorf; Amy van Grieken; Ida J Korfage; Agnes van der Heide; Francesco Mattace Raso; Ed van Beeck; Hein Raat Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-06-30 Impact factor: 2.692