Mental health, social integration and support of informal caregivers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based representative study from Germany
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Mental health, social integration and support of informal caregivers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based representative study from Germany. / Zwar, Larissa; König, Hans-Helmut; Hajek, André.
in: ARCH GERONTOL GERIAT, Jahrgang 114, 105085, 11.2023.Publikationen: SCORING: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift/Zeitung › SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz › Forschung › Begutachtung
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T1 - Mental health, social integration and support of informal caregivers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based representative study from Germany
AU - Zwar, Larissa
AU - König, Hans-Helmut
AU - Hajek, André
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - IntroductionThe study analyzed mental health, social integration and social support of informal caregivers of individuals aged ≥60 years compared to non-caregivers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample drawn randomly from the nationally representative online panel forsa.omninet in Germany between March 4th and 19th 2021. In total, 3022 adults aged ≥40 years from Germany were questioned, including 489 adults providing informal care for adults aged ≥60 years between December 2020 and March 2021. Depressive (PHQ-9) and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), loneliness (De Jong Gierveld Scale), social exclusion (Bude & Lantermann Scale) and social network support (Lubben's Social Network Scale) were measured. Adjusted OLS regression analyses and additional moderator analyses (moderators: perceived restrictions and danger of infection due to the COVID-19 pandemic) were conducted.ResultsSignificant higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms and more social support were found among informal caregivers compared to non-caregivers. Loneliness and social exclusion did not differ between both groups. Perceived restrictions by the pandemic significantly moderated the association between informal caregiving and social support – social support was stronger among caregivers with higher levels of perceived restrictions by the pandemic.ConclusionInformal caregivers are faced with worse mental health than non-caregivers during the pandemic, although their social support was stronger, in particular in dependence of higher levels of perceived restrictions by the pandemic. Thus, results indicate a need for an informal-care-specific policy and more professional support for informal caregivers during a health crisis.
AB - IntroductionThe study analyzed mental health, social integration and social support of informal caregivers of individuals aged ≥60 years compared to non-caregivers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample drawn randomly from the nationally representative online panel forsa.omninet in Germany between March 4th and 19th 2021. In total, 3022 adults aged ≥40 years from Germany were questioned, including 489 adults providing informal care for adults aged ≥60 years between December 2020 and March 2021. Depressive (PHQ-9) and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), loneliness (De Jong Gierveld Scale), social exclusion (Bude & Lantermann Scale) and social network support (Lubben's Social Network Scale) were measured. Adjusted OLS regression analyses and additional moderator analyses (moderators: perceived restrictions and danger of infection due to the COVID-19 pandemic) were conducted.ResultsSignificant higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms and more social support were found among informal caregivers compared to non-caregivers. Loneliness and social exclusion did not differ between both groups. Perceived restrictions by the pandemic significantly moderated the association between informal caregiving and social support – social support was stronger among caregivers with higher levels of perceived restrictions by the pandemic.ConclusionInformal caregivers are faced with worse mental health than non-caregivers during the pandemic, although their social support was stronger, in particular in dependence of higher levels of perceived restrictions by the pandemic. Thus, results indicate a need for an informal-care-specific policy and more professional support for informal caregivers during a health crisis.
KW - COVID-19 pandemic
KW - Informal caregiving
KW - Mental health
KW - Depression
KW - Anxiety
KW - Social isolation
U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105085
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105085
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 37311371
VL - 114
JO - ARCH GERONTOL GERIAT
JF - ARCH GERONTOL GERIAT
SN - 0167-4943
M1 - 105085
ER -