IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i4p3256-d1066631.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Caregivers of People with an Intellectual Disability, in Comparison to Carers of Those with Other Disabilities and with Mental Health Issues: A Multicountry Study

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew Wormald

    (Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Eimear McGlinchey

    (Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
    The Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Maureen D’Eath

    (Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Iracema Leroi

    (The Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Brian Lawlor

    (The Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Philip McCallion

    (College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA)

  • Mary McCarron

    (Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Roger O’Sullivan

    (Institute of Public Health, D08 NH90 Dublin, Ireland
    The Bamford Centre, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK)

  • Yaohua Chen

    (The Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
    Department of Gerontology, Lille University Hospital, 59000 Lille, France
    INSERM UMR-S 1172, Vascular and Degenerative Cognitive Disorders, University of Lille, 59000 Lille, France)

Abstract

Carers supporting people with an intellectual disability often rely on others to manage the burden of care. This research aims to compare the differences between carer groups and understand the predictors of loneliness changes and burden for carers of people with an intellectual disability. Data from the international CLIC study were analysed. In total, 3930 carers responded from four groups; people who care for those with mental health difficulties ( n = 491), dementia ( n = 1888), physical disabilities ( n = 1147), and Intellectual disabilities ( n = 404). Cross tabulation and the chi-squared test were used to compare group compositions and binary logistic regression to model predictors within the intellectual disability group. A total of 65% of those caring for people with an intellectual disability experienced increased burden, and 35% of carers of people with an intellectual disability and another condition experienced more severe loneliness. Becoming severely lonely was predicted by feeling burdened by caring (AOR, 15.89) and worsening mental health (AOR, 2.13) Feeling burden was predicted by being aged between 35 and 44 (AOR, 4.24), poor mental health (AOR, 3.51), and feelings of severe loneliness prior to the pandemic (AOR, 2.45). These findings demonstrate that those who were already struggling with caring experienced the greatest difficulties during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Wormald & Eimear McGlinchey & Maureen D’Eath & Iracema Leroi & Brian Lawlor & Philip McCallion & Mary McCarron & Roger O’Sullivan & Yaohua Chen, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Caregivers of People with an Intellectual Disability, in Comparison to Carers of Those with Other Disabilities and with Mental Health Issues: A Multicountry Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3256-:d:1066631
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3256/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3256/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. André Hajek & Benedikt Kretzler & Hans-Helmut König, 2021. "Informal Caregiving, Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.
    2. Anna Messina & Rebecca Amati & Emiliano Albanese & Maddalena Fiordelli, 2022. "Help-Seeking in Informal Family Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Qualitative Study with iSupport as a Case in Point," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Roger O’Sullivan & Annette Burns & Gerard Leavey & Iracema Leroi & Vanessa Burholt & James Lubben & Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Christina Victor & Brian Lawlor & Mireya Vilar-Compte & Carla M. Perissinott, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Multi-Country Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-18, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Afolasade Fakolade & Caitlin Stone & Nicole Bobbette, 2023. "Identifying Research Priorities to Promote the Well-Being of Family Caregivers of Canadians with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities: A Pilot Delphi Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-15, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Youlai Zeng & Jiahui Zhang & Jiaxin Wei & Shunyu Li, 2022. "The Impact of Undergraduates’ Social Isolation on Smartphone Addiction: The Roles of Academic Anxiety and Social Media Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Matylda Sierakowska & Halina Doroszkiewicz, 2022. "Psychosocial Determinants of Loneliness in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Sally C. Duplantier & Francesca A. Williamson, 2023. "Barriers and Facilitators of Health and Well-Being in Informal Caregivers of Dementia Patients: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Adèle Gauthier & Cécile Lagarde & France Mourey & Patrick Manckoundia, 2022. "Use of Digital Tools, Social Isolation, and Lockdown in People 80 Years and Older Living at Home," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-18, March.
    5. David McDaid & A-La Park, 2022. "Understanding the Economic Value and Impacts on Informal Carers of People Living with Mental Health Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Katharina Dost & Fabian Heinrich & Wiebke Graf & Anna Brennecke & Veronika Kowalski & Anna Leider & Anika Kraus & Victoria van Rüth & Benjamin Ondruschka & Klaus Püschel & Hans-Helmut König & Franzisk, 2022. "Predictors of Loneliness among Homeless Individuals in Germany during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-11, October.
    7. David Victorson & Gretchen Doninger & Scott Victorson & Gwen Victorson & Lars Hall & Carly Maletich & Bradley R. Corr & Kathy Scortino & Zachary Burns & Lori Allen & Ian Rosa & Kelley Quirk & Adekunle, 2021. "Psychosocial and Biological Outcomes of Immersive, Mindfulness-Based Treks in Nature for Groups of Young Adults and Caregivers Affected by Cancer: Results from a Single Arm Program Evaluation from 201," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-16, November.
    8. Bruno Arpino & Christine A. Mair & Nekehia T. Quashie & Radoslaw Antczak, 2022. "Loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic—are unpartnered and childless older adults at higher risk?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1327-1338, December.
    9. Marcus F. Johansson & Kevin J. McKee & Lena Dahlberg & Christine L. Williams & Lena Marmstål Hammar, 2024. "Perceived Importance of Types and Characteristics of Support to Informal Caregivers among Spouse Caregivers of Persons with Dementia in Sweden: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(10), pages 1-17, October.
    10. Angie Campbell & Victoria Chanse & Mirjam Schindler, 2024. "Developing a Conceptual Framework for Characterizing and Measuring Social Resilience in Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-32, May.
    11. Aina Gabarrell-Pascuet & Helena García-Mieres & Iago Giné-Vázquez & Maria Victoria Moneta & Ai Koyanagi & Josep Maria Haro & Joan Domènech-Abella, 2023. "The Association of Social Support and Loneliness with Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-25, February.
    12. Aleksandra M. Rogowska & Patrycja Libera, 2022. "Life Satisfaction and Instagram Addiction among University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Bidirectional Mediating Role of Loneliness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-20, July.
    13. Gianluca Ciuffreda & Sara Cabanillas-Barea & Andoni Carrasco-Uribarren & María Isabel Albarova-Corral & María Irache Argüello-Espinosa & Yolanda Marcén-Román, 2021. "Factors Associated with Depression and Anxiety in Adults ≥60 Years Old during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-17, November.
    14. Pablo De Gea Grela & Diego Sánchez-González & Lorena Patricia Gallardo Peralta, 2024. "Urban and Rural Environments and Their Implications for Older Adults’ Adaptation to Heat Waves: A Systematic Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-29, August.
    15. Niloufar Benam & William C. Miller & Gordon Tao & W. Ben Mortenson & Julia Schmidt, 2022. "Anxiety and Social Support Are Associated with Loneliness among Adults with Disabilities and Older Adults with No Self-Reported Disabilities 10 Months Post COVID-19 Restrictions," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-11, December.
    16. Jill J. Juris & Erin D. Bouldin & Katherine Uva & Christopher D. Cardwell & Anastacia Schulhoff & Nicole Hiegl, 2022. "Virtual Intergenerational Reverse-Mentoring Program Reduces Loneliness among Older Adults: Results from a Pilot Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-11, June.
    17. Edward J D & David Meads & Clare Gardiner, 2023. "The informal carer experience during the COVID-19 pandemic: mental health, loneliness, and financial (in)-security," Oxford Open Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 2, pages 428-442.
    18. Andrea Principi & Davide Lucantoni & Sabrina Quattrini & Mirko Di Rosa & Marco Socci, 2022. "Changes in Volunteering of Older Adults in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Motivations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
    19. Lidia Mierzejewska & Kamila Sikorska-Podyma & Marta Szejnfeld & Magdalena Wdowicka & Bogusz Modrzewski & Ewa Lechowska, 2023. "The Role of Greenery in Stress Reduction among City Residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-19, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3256-:d:1066631. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.