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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

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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, Vol. 114, 105085, 11.2023.

Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Zwar, L, König, H-H & Hajek, A 2023, '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', ARCH GERONTOL GERIAT, vol. 114, 105085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2023.105085

APA

Zwar, L., König, H-H., & Hajek, A. (2023). 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. ARCH GERONTOL GERIAT, 114, [105085]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2023.105085

Vancouver

Zwar L, König H-H, Hajek A. 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. ARCH GERONTOL GERIAT. 2023 Nov;114. 105085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2023.105085

Bibtex

@article{737262e46097432d9555208b21782da1,
title = "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",
abstract = "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.",
keywords = "COVID-19 pandemic, Informal caregiving, Mental health, Depression, Anxiety, Social isolation",
author = "Larissa Zwar and Hans-Helmut K{\"o}nig and Andr{\'e} Hajek",
year = "2023",
month = nov,
doi = "10.1016/j.archger.2023.105085",
language = "English",
volume = "114",
journal = "ARCH GERONTOL GERIAT",
issn = "0167-4943",
publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

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 -