Influence of burden, stress and depressive symptoms on the health of older adult caregivers: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Objective to analyze the effect of burden, stress, and depressive symptoms on the health characteristics of older adult caregivers of older adults. Method A quantitative and longitudinal study was conducted with 127 older adult caregivers to analyze the effect of burden, stress, and depressive symptoms on their health characteristics. The variables assessed included health characterization, burden, depressive symptoms, and stress. A linear regression model and Poisson test were employed, with a significance level set at 5%. Results The findings revealed that an increase of one point in the burden scale score was associated with a 0.030 increase in the number of diseases (p=0.020) and an increased risk of chronic pain (p=0.005). Similarly, a one-point increase in the stress scale score was associated with a 0.058 increase in the number of diseases (p=0.001), as well as an increased risk of a poor subjective health assessment (p=<0.001) and chronic pain (p=<0.001). Furthermore, an increase in the score on the depressive symptoms scale was associated with an increase in the number of diseases (p=<0.001), risk of falls (p=0.009), poor subjective health assessment (p=<0.001), and chronic pain (p=<0.001). Conclusions and implications for practice The worsening estimate in the scores of psychological variables poses a risk to the deterioration of caregivers’ physical health characteristics. The findings underscore the need for the development of public policies aimed at improving the quality of life for older adult caregivers.