Citation

González-de Paz L, Real J, Borrás-Santos A, Martínez-Sánchez JM, Rodrigo-Baños V, Dolores Navarro-Rubio M. J. Public Health Policy 2016; 37(2): 173-189.

Affiliation

Spanish Patient's Forum, Barcelona, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group -- Palgrave-Macmillan)

DOI

10.1057/jphp.2016.3

PMID

26865318

Abstract

This population-based study using 2011-2012 Spanish National Health Survey data aimed to measure the impact of disease, health-related habits, and risk factors associated with informal caregiving. We included and matched self-reported informal caregivers [ICs] with controls (1:4) from the same survey. For each outcome, we analyzed associations between ICs and controls using linear regression or logistic regression models. ICs had 3.4 per cent more depression (OR: 1.33, 95 per cent confidence intervals [CI]:1.06, 1.68). ICs had lower social support (95 per cent CI: 1.64, 3.28), they did more housework alone (OR:3.6, 95 per cent CI:2.65, 4.89), and had greater stress (95 per cent CI:0.13, 0.83). Women ICs caring alone had more anxiety than other groups. We found no statistical association between caregivers and worse health-related habits or increased risk factors (less physical activity, smoking, drinking, and cholesterol). Our results provide evidence that health-care professionals and organizations should recognize the importance of caring for those who care.Journal of Public Health Policy advance online publication, 11 February 2016; doi:10.1057/jphp.2016.3.

Language: en