Physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
Abstract Background Informal caregiving, a common form of social support, can be a chronic stressor with health consequences for caregivers. It is unclear how varying restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic affected caregivers’ physical and mental health. This study explores pre-post March 2020 di...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17164-8 |
| _version_ | 1827602608808787968 |
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| author | Emery L Ngamasana Meagan Zarwell Laura H Gunn |
| author_facet | Emery L Ngamasana Meagan Zarwell Laura H Gunn |
| author_sort | Emery L Ngamasana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Informal caregiving, a common form of social support, can be a chronic stressor with health consequences for caregivers. It is unclear how varying restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic affected caregivers’ physical and mental health. This study explores pre-post March 2020 differences in reported days of poor physical and mental health among informal caregivers. Methods Data from the 2019/2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey were used to match, via propensity scores, informal caregivers who provided care during COVID-19 restrictions to those who provided care before the pandemic. Negative binomial weighted regression models estimated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and differences by demographics of reporting days of poor physical and mental health. A sensitivity analysis including multiple imputation was also performed. Results The sample included 9,240 informal caregivers, of whom 861 provided care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence rate for days of poor physical health was 26% lower (p = 0.001) for those who provided care during the COVID-19 pandemic, though the incidence rates for days of poor mental health were not statistically different between groups. Informal caregivers with low educational attainment experienced significantly higher IRRs for days of poor physical and mental health. Younger informal caregivers had a significantly lower IRR for days of poor physical health, but higher IRR for days of poor mental health. Conclusions This study contends that the physical and mental health burden associated with informal caregiving in a period of great uncertainty may be heightened among certain populations. Policymakers should consider expanding access to resources through institutional mechanisms for informal caregivers, who may be likely to incur a higher physical and mental health burden during public health emergencies, especially those identified as higher risk. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:21:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20d42bc0cb9d43cdb4f8dfdb380d23f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:21:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-20d42bc0cb9d43cdb4f8dfdb380d23f92023-12-03T12:39:22ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-11-0123111210.1186/s12889-023-17164-8Physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United StatesEmery L Ngamasana0Meagan Zarwell1Laura H Gunn2Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at CharlotteDepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at CharlotteDepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at CharlotteAbstract Background Informal caregiving, a common form of social support, can be a chronic stressor with health consequences for caregivers. It is unclear how varying restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic affected caregivers’ physical and mental health. This study explores pre-post March 2020 differences in reported days of poor physical and mental health among informal caregivers. Methods Data from the 2019/2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey were used to match, via propensity scores, informal caregivers who provided care during COVID-19 restrictions to those who provided care before the pandemic. Negative binomial weighted regression models estimated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and differences by demographics of reporting days of poor physical and mental health. A sensitivity analysis including multiple imputation was also performed. Results The sample included 9,240 informal caregivers, of whom 861 provided care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence rate for days of poor physical health was 26% lower (p = 0.001) for those who provided care during the COVID-19 pandemic, though the incidence rates for days of poor mental health were not statistically different between groups. Informal caregivers with low educational attainment experienced significantly higher IRRs for days of poor physical and mental health. Younger informal caregivers had a significantly lower IRR for days of poor physical health, but higher IRR for days of poor mental health. Conclusions This study contends that the physical and mental health burden associated with informal caregiving in a period of great uncertainty may be heightened among certain populations. Policymakers should consider expanding access to resources through institutional mechanisms for informal caregivers, who may be likely to incur a higher physical and mental health burden during public health emergencies, especially those identified as higher risk.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17164-8Informal caregivingPhysical healthMental healthCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Emery L Ngamasana Meagan Zarwell Laura H Gunn Physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States BMC Public Health Informal caregiving Physical health Mental health COVID-19 |
| title | Physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States |
| title_full | Physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States |
| title_short | Physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States |
| title_sort | physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the covid 19 pandemic in the united states |
| topic | Informal caregiving Physical health Mental health COVID-19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17164-8 |
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