Abstract
BackgroundCarers provide both practical and emotional support and often play an important role in coordination of care for recipients. The demands of caring may lead to increased levels of stress for the carer, which can affect mental health and quality of life. This study examined the relationship between being a carer and psychological distress (assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K10]), and explored the moderating effect of social support in that relationship using a large sample.MethodsThe study used data from the 45 and Up study, a large cohort study of individuals aged 45 years and over in New South Wales, Australia, and applied multiple regression methods and moderation analysis. The sample for the current study comprised 267,041 participants drawn from the baseline dataset, with valid data on the primary outcome (carer status).ResultsThe mean age of participants was 62.73 (±11.18) years, and 4.23% and 7.13% were identified as full-time and part-time carers, respectively. Compared to non-carers, full-time carers had K10 scores that were on average, higher by 1.87, while part-time carers’ K10 scores were on average higher by 1.60 points. A perception of social support reduced the strength of the relationship between carer status and psychological distress by 40% for full-time carers and 60% for part-time carers.ConclusionsThe findings have important implications, for both prevention and treatment of psychological problems among carers. In terms of prevention, they suggest that public health campaigns focused on increasing awareness regarding the psychological burden faced by carers would be useful. In terms of intervention, potential treatments that focus on improving social support networks may be helpful. The results are particularly important in the current context of an ageing population in Australian and other developed countries, where caregiving is likely to play an increasing role in the care and support services.
Highlights
Carers provide both practical and emotional support and often play an important role in coordination of care for recipients
Compared to non-carers, full-time carers had Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale (K10) scores that were on average higher by 1.87, while part-time carers’ K10 scores were on average higher by 1.60 points
Being older was associated with lower K10 scores, and a one-year increase in age was associated with a K10 score that is lower by 0.09
Summary
Carers provide both practical and emotional support and often play an important role in coordination of care for recipients. As the percentage of older Australians in the population increases, these figures are likely to grow Pristavec [7] noted that receiving care from caregivers who perceive high burden or few benefits associated with caring can place additional stress on care recipients, negatively impacting their health. Psychosocial variables such as feeling burdened by the carer role, poorer physical and psychological health, and a poorer relationship with the care recipient, have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of institutionalisation of the care recipients with dementia [8]
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