Title | Does Becoming an ADL Spousal Caregiver Increase the Caregiver's Depressive Symptoms? |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | Dunkle, RE, Feld, S, Lehning, AJ, Kim, H, Shen, H-W, Kim, MHee |
Journal | Research on Aging |
Volume | 36 |
Issue | 6 |
Start Page | 655 |
Pagination | 655-682 |
Keywords | Adult 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. |
URL | http://roa.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/12/22/0164027513516152.abstract |
DOI | 10.1177/0164027513516152 |
Endnote Keywords | Depressive Symptoms/ADL/IADL/caregiver burden/stress/spousal caregiving/Public Policy |
Endnote ID | 999999 |
Citation Key | 6465 |