Stress of Caregivers Varies Depending on Roles.

Women who assist dependent relatives or friends with more activities of daily living report higher stress levels than those who perform fewer caregiving tasks, according to a new study led by School of Public Health researchers. And rather than adapting to their role, these “high-intensity” caregivers continue to be stressed over long periods of time—suggesting that they need targeted stress-reduction interventions.

The study, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, found that informal caregivers in “high-intensity” roles and those who transitioned from low- to high-intensity caregiving reported the highest stress of all caregiver groups. Meanwhile, women who stopped caregiving, regardless of the level of caregiving intensity, reported the same amount of stress as non-caregivers.

Caregiving status was measured by participants’ self-reporting of providing help with at least one basic or instrumental activity of daily living (ADL or IADL) to a relative or friend with physical, psychological, and/or cognitive impairments. High-intensity caregivers provided help with two or more ADL tasks or six or more IADL tasks, such as bathing, walking or dressing.

The study followed close to 1,000 older, female caregivers and non-caregivers for two to nine years. It found that amount of psychological stress varied depending on the number of past and current caregiving tasks, as well as the progression of a loved one’s need for assistance.

“These results contradict previous research that suggests that persons who are providing care for at least six months adapt to their role and experience less psychological distress over time,” the study found. “Considering the adverse health outcomes of chronic stress, our results emphasize the importance of directing stress-reduction interventions to high-intensity caregivers.”

Increasing numbers of women have taken on caregiving roles for aging spouses and other family members, as many states shift focus from nursing-home care to home care. The shift has increased attention on the health implications of informal caregiving.

Authors of the study include Lisa Fredman, professor of epidemiology at SPH, Jennifer Lyons, a doctoral student in epidemiology, and Jane Cauley of the University of Pittsburgh epidemiology department.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Submitted by: Lisa Chedekel