Care-giver wellbeing: exploring gender, relationship-to-care-recipient and care-giving demands in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Abstract

The three-way intersection of gender, relationship-to-care-recipient and care-giving demands has not, to our knowledge, been examined in relation to the wellbeing of family care-givers. We explore inequalities in depressive symptoms and life satisfaction, comparing wives, husbands, daughters and sons providing very-intensive care (36+ hours/week) with those providing less care and disparities between these groups in the factors related to disadvantage. Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (N = 5,994) support the existence of differences between the groups. Very-intensive care-giving wives report the most depressive symptoms and lowest life satisfaction; less-intensive care-giving sons report the fewest depressive symptoms, and less-intensive care-giving daughters report the highest life satisfaction. However, group differences in life satisfaction disappear among very-intensive care-givers. Drawing on Intersectionality and Stress Process theories, data from regression analyses reveal a non-significant gender–relationship–demand interaction term, but, health, socio-economic and social support resources play a strong mediating role between care demand and wellbeing. Analyses of the eight groups separately reveal diversity in the care-giving experience. Among less-intensive care-givers, the mediating role of resources remains strong even as differences are evident. Among very-intensive care-givers, the role of resources is less and differences in wellbeing between the groups are magnified. Policy implications emphasise the imperative to personalise services to meet the varied needs of care-givers.

Caregiving for frail home‐dwelling older people: A qualitative study of family caregivers' experiences

“…Existential issues about the current and future situation need to be raised and awareness created of their reactions to care. Previous studies highlight that caregiver responsibility poses a compelling risk since family caregivers report a lower quality of life (Chappell et al., 2021; Pinquart & Sörensen, 2011; Stefánsdóttir et al., 2022). We assume that the caregivers in our study might have the same experiences.…”

“…It can be overwhelming for caregivers who must balance work and family responsibilities. Studies have shown that caregiving can adversely affect caregivers' quality of life because of the weight of their responsibilities (Chappell et al., 2021; Munkejord et al., 2020; Ringer et al., 2017). The relationship between care recipients and caregivers is essential in how caregivers experience their role (Sardella et al., 2021).…”

Impact of care–recipient relationship type on quality of life in caregivers of older adults with dementia over time

“…Research [ 37 ] on informal caregivers for persons with Alzheimer's disease showed the combined influence of gender and relationship type on caregiving experience over time. A Canadian study further revealed that caregivers’ well-being is shaped by the intersection of gender, relationship type and caregiving demands [ 38 ]. It noted differences in depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among spousal caregivers, sons and daughters, based on the intensity of their caregiving.…”