Efectos de la satisfacción con el tiempo de ocio en personas cuidadoras de familiares mayores dependientes

Abstract

AimTo analyse the relationship between satisfaction with leisure time and subjective burden, depression and anxiety in caregivers of dependent elderly relatives. DesignCross-sectional study. LocationPrimary health care (Andalusia, Spain). ParticipantsA probabilistic sample of 200 primary caregivers of dependent elderly relatives. Main measurementsSatisfaction with leisure time, subjective burden, anxiety, depression, and objective burden (functional ability, cognitive impairment and behavioural problems of the care recipient, and dedication to caring of the caregiver). ResultsMost of the caregivers were women, daughters of the care recipients, and shared home with them. An inverse statistical association was found between satisfaction with leisure time and subjective burden (r=−0.55, 95%CI: −0.45 to −0.64), anxiety (r=−0.30, 95%CI: −0.17 to −0.41) and depression (r=−0.25, 95%CI: −0.11 to −0.37). These associations remained after controlling for objective burden. ConclusionsSatisfaction with leisure time may have a protective effect on subjective burden, anxiety and depression, regardless of objective burden.