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Caregivers’ Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms During COVID-19

Author

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  • Sung S Park
  • Deborah S Carr

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study examines differences in the mental and physical health of the U.S. population during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic among 3 groups: noncaregivers, short-term caregivers (1 year or less), and long-term caregivers (greater than 1 year).MethodsData from the Understanding America Study are used to describe group differences in reports of psychological distress and somatic symptoms. Logistic and negative binomial regression models are used to examine whether these differences persist after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and prepandemic health conditions. To understand within-group differences in caregiving demands, the intensity of care provided by short-term and long-term caregivers, as well as selected patients’ health conditions are summarized.ResultsAdults’ mental and physical health varied substantially by caregiver status. Caregivers continued to fare worse than noncaregivers in terms of mental health and fatigue, and long-term caregivers were more likely to report headache, body aches, and abdominal discomfort than both short-term caregivers and noncaregivers, net of controls. The nature of caregiving differed between short-term and long-term caregivers, with the latter more likely to provide greater hours of care, and to be looking after patients with permanent medical conditions.DiscussionEfforts to understand and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on population health should include caregivers, whose mental and physical health were already vulnerable before COVID-19.

Suggested Citation

  • Sung S Park & Deborah S Carr, 2021. "Caregivers’ Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms During COVID-19," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(4), pages 235-240.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:76:y:2021:i:4:p:e235-e240.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbaa121
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    Cited by:

    1. Jones, Francis & Quashie, Nekehia, 2023. "The ageing Caribbean: 20 years of the Madrid Plan of Action," Studies and Perspectives – ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for The Caribbean 48699, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    2. Sharon Anderson & Jasneet Parmar & Tanya L’Heureux & Bonnie Dobbs & Lesley Charles & Peter George J. Tian, 2022. "Family Caregiving during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada: A Mediation Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-15, July.
    3. José Luis Carballo & Ainhoa Coloma-Carmona & Sara Arteseros-Bañón & Virtudes Pérez-Jover, 2021. "The Moderating Role of Caregiving on Fear of COVID-19 and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, June.
    4. Chiara Acquati & Katharine J. Head & Kevin L. Rand & Jennifer S. Alwine & Danielle Nicole Short & Andrea A. Cohee & Victoria L. Champion & Claire Burke Draucker, 2023. "Psychosocial Experiences, Challenges, and Recommendations for Care Delivery among Partners of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    5. María Del Río-Lozano & Mar García-Calvente & Belén Elizalde-Sagardia & Gracia Maroto-Navarro, 2022. "Caregiving and Caregiver Health 1 Year into the COVID-19 Pandemic (CUIDAR-SE Study): A Gender Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-18, January.
    6. Leonarda G. M. Bremmers & Leona Hakkaart-van Roijen & Eleonora S. Gräler & Carin A. Uyl-de Groot & Isabelle N. Fabbricotti, 2022. "How Do Shifts in Patients with Mental Health Problems’ Formal and Informal Care Utilization Affect Informal Caregivers?: A COVID-19 Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Carlos Fernandez-Llatas & Niels Martin & Owen Johnson & Marcos Sepulveda & Emmanuel Helm & Jorge Munoz-Gama, 2022. "Building Process-Oriented Data Science Solutions for Real-World Healthcare," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-5, July.
    8. Costi, Chiara & Hollingsworth, Bruce & O'Sullivan, Vincent & Zucchelli, Eugenio, 2023. "Does caring for others affect our mental health? Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).

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