Larissa Zwar1, Hans-Helmut König2, André Hajek3. 1. University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: l.zwar@uke.de. 2. University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: h.koenig@uke.de. 3. University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: a.hajek@uke.de.
Abstract
STUDY AIM: This study's aim was to investigate the influence of different caregiving types on cognitive functioning of caregivers aged 65 years and older longitudinally and to look at potential gender differences in this association. METHOD: Data from the German Ageing Survey, a longitudinal population-based study assessing community-dwelling people in Germany, was used. Our sample consisted of participants 65 years and older (waves 2008, 2011 and 2014; N = 6560). Informal caregiving was assessed in terms of three caregiving types (help around the house, looking after someone, performing nursing care services). An adaption of the widely used Digit Symbol Substitution Test was used to assess cognitive function. RESULTS: Fixed-effects regressions demonstrated a positive association of looking after someone with cognitive functioning (β = 1.90, p < .01). There was no significant association of help around the house (β = 0.96, p = .22) or performing nursing care services (β = 2.12, p = .09) with cognitive function. Stratifying for gender, we found this effect of looking after someone on cognitive functioning only in women (β = 2.82, p < .01), but not in men (β = 1.00, p = .23). The other caregiving types showed no significant association with cognitive function, neither in men (helping around the house: β = 0.20, p = .85; performing nursing care services: β = 1.16, p = .52), nor in women (helping around the house: β = 1.67, p = .13; performing nursing care services: β = 2.88, p = .09). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that informal caregiving, in terms of looking after someone, can be beneficial for cognitive function, at least for female caregivers. Thus, we recommend to consider caregiving types when investigating informal caregiving and cognitive function. Furthermore, we recommend to focus support more on other outcomes, particularly for female caregivers.
STUDY AIM: This study's aim was to investigate the influence of different caregiving types on cognitive functioning of caregivers aged 65 years and older longitudinally and to look at potential gender differences in this association. METHOD: Data from the German Ageing Survey, a longitudinal population-based study assessing community-dwelling people in Germany, was used. Our sample consisted of participants 65 years and older (waves 2008, 2011 and 2014; N = 6560). Informal caregiving was assessed in terms of three caregiving types (help around the house, looking after someone, performing nursing care services). An adaption of the widely used Digit Symbol Substitution Test was used to assess cognitive function. RESULTS: Fixed-effects regressions demonstrated a positive association of looking after someone with cognitive functioning (β = 1.90, p < .01). There was no significant association of help around the house (β = 0.96, p = .22) or performing nursing care services (β = 2.12, p = .09) with cognitive function. Stratifying for gender, we found this effect of looking after someone on cognitive functioning only in women (β = 2.82, p < .01), but not in men (β = 1.00, p = .23). The other caregiving types showed no significant association with cognitive function, neither in men (helping around the house: β = 0.20, p = .85; performing nursing care services: β = 1.16, p = .52), nor in women (helping around the house: β = 1.67, p = .13; performing nursing care services: β = 2.88, p = .09). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that informal caregiving, in terms of looking after someone, can be beneficial for cognitive function, at least for female caregivers. Thus, we recommend to consider caregiving types when investigating informal caregiving and cognitive function. Furthermore, we recommend to focus support more on other outcomes, particularly for female caregivers.