Does Becoming an ADL Spousal Caregiver Increase the Caregiver's Depressive Symptoms?

TitleDoes Becoming an ADL Spousal Caregiver Increase the Caregiver's Depressive Symptoms?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsDunkle, RE, Feld, S, Lehning, AJ, Kim, H, Shen, H-W, Kim, MHee
JournalResearch on Aging
Volume36
Issue6
Start Page655
Pagination655-682
KeywordsAdult children, Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Public Policy
Abstract

This study investigated whether transitioning into the role of activities of daily living (ADL) spousal caregiver is associated with increased depressive symptoms for older husbands and wives among a sample of coresiding community-dwelling older couples. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we estimated a two-level linear model to examine the association between change in caregiver status and respondents depressive symptoms at follow-up, controlling for other factors identified in Pearlin s stress process model (PSPM). Results indicate that both husbands and wives who become ADL caregivers have more follow-up depressive symptoms than noncaregivers. Furthermore, wives continuing as caregivers have more follow-up depressive symptoms than wives who do not provide care. Finally, the physical health of the spousal caregiver is related to depressive symptoms at follow-up. We conclude with policy and practice implications of these three main findings.

URLhttp://roa.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/12/22/0164027513516152.abstract
DOI10.1177/0164027513516152
Endnote Keywords

Depressive Symptoms/ADL/IADL/caregiver burden/stress/spousal caregiving/Public Policy

Endnote ID

999999

Citation Key6465