Caring in the time of COVID-19, longitudinal trends in well-being and mental health in carers in Ireland: Evidence from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

McGarrigle, Christine; Ward, Mark; Looze, Céline De; O’Halloran, Aisling; Kenny, RA

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2022.104719

Cited by 9 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The majority operationalised unpaid caregiving as a binary variable (care provision versus no care provision), whilst seven studies categorised caregiving in a variety of ways. Two studies categorised carers as new carers or continued/existing carers [ 41 , 46 ], one study had a very broad definition of caregiving [ 46 ], whilst the other restricted their caring exposure to out-of-home caregiving [ 41 ]. One study divided carers into short-term and long-term (>12 months) caregivers [ 44 ], whilst another examined childcare and eldercare separately as well as together (sandwich care) [ 54 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Every included study utilised a validated measure of MH (in line with the review criteria), all of which were self-reported via survey-based instruments. Seven studies examined depression and anxiety as two separate MH outcomes [ 43 , 47 – 49 , 52 , 53 , 60 ], whilst twelve studies examined only depression/physiological distress [ 41 , 42 , 44 – 46 , 50 , 54 – 59 ], and one study examined only anxiety [ 51 ]. A descriptive summary and main findings of included studies (including effect estimates and confidence parameters where reported) can be found in Table 1 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Overall, in evaluating the relationship between informal unpaid caregiving and MH in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the quality of evidence was found to be moderate. Five studies were deemed to be at low risk of bias (RoB) [ 41 , 42 , 44 , 46 , 47 ], twelve studies at moderate RoB [ 43 , 45 , 49 – 52 , 54 , 56 – 60 ], and three studies rated as high RoB [ 48 , 53 , 55 ]. Domains most likely to dampen quality (limit star allocations) were those relating to non-response, comparability, and temporality.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the nineteen studies that examined depression/psychological distress as a MH outcome, thirteen studies uniformly reported higher levels of depression/psychological distress amongst caregivers compared to non-carers [ 43 – 45 , 47 – 50 , 52 , 56 – 60 ], whilst one reported a negative association only for new carers (and none for existing carers) [ 41 ], and another only for sandwich care (and none for eldercare or childcare only) [ 54 ]. Two studies reported no association [ 46 , 53 ], whilst two studies reported a decrease in depressive symptoms associated with care provision [ 42 , 55 ]. However, both these studies differed from other included studies in the review in that caregiving was for children, grandchildren in one study [ 42 ], and primary care for children in the other [ 55 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Unpaid caregiving and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic—A systematic review of the quantitative literature

Ervin,

Fleitas Alfonzo,

Taouk

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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The COVID-19 pandemic imposed additional and specific challenges on the lives and wellbeing of informal unpaid carers. Addressing an important gap in the existing literature, this systematic review (prospectively registered with PROSPERO CRD42022376012) synthesises and evaluates the quantitative evidence examining the association between unpaid caregiving and mental health (compared to non-caring), during the pandemic. Five databases were searched (Medline, PsycInfo, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science) from Jan 1, 2020, to March 1, 2023. Population-based, peer-reviewed quantitative studies using any observational design were included, with screening, data extraction and quality assessment (amended NOS) independently conducted by two reviewers. Of the 3,073 records screened, 20 eligible studies (113,151 participants) were included. Overall quality of evidence was moderate. Narrative synthesis was complemented by Effect-direction and Albatross plots (given significant between-study heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis). Results indicate that the mental health of informal carers, already poorer pre-COVID compared to non-caregivers, was disproportionally impacted as a result of the pandemic and its associated public health containment measures. This review highlights the vulnerability of this group and should motivate political will and commensurate policies to ensure unpaid caregivers are better supported now, in the medium term, and crucially if, and when, another global public health emergency emerges.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Unpaid caregiving and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic—A systematic review of the quantitative literature

Ervin,

Fleitas Alfonzo,

Taouk

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, using chronological age to characterise individual mortality risk as the basis to implement a blanket policy for older adults at the population level had its problems. Such policies did not take account of the heterogeneity in the pace of ageing among older adults and failed to recognise the consequent harms of physical deconditioning, social isolation, loneliness, depression and decreased quality of life (21)(22)(23) .…”

Section: Biological V Chronological Agementioning

confidence: 99%

Sustaining an ageing population: the role of micronutrients in frailty and cognitive impairment

et al. 2023

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Age-related frailty and cognitive decline are complex multidimensional conditions that significantly impact the ability of older adults to sustain functional capacity and independence. While underlying causes remain poorly understood, nutrition continually emerges as one associated risk element. Many studies have addressed the importance of adequate nutrition in delaying the onset of these conditions, but the specific role of micronutrients is not well established. The consideration of pre-frailty as an outcome variable is also limited in the current literature. In this review, we focus on the potential value of maintaining micronutrient sufficiency to sustaining the health of the ageing population. Using data from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing, we consider several vitamins known to have a high prevalence of low status in older adults and their impact on pre-frailty, frailty and cognitive impairment. They include vitamin B12 and folate, both of which are associated with multiple biological mechanisms involved in long-term health, in particular in cognitive function; vitamin D, which has been associated with increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders, depression and other chronic diseases; and the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, that may help mitigate the risk of frailty and cognitive decline via their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We show that low concentrations of folate and carotenoids are implicated in poorer cognitive health and that the co-occurrence of multiple nutrient deficiencies confers greatest risk for frailty and pre-frailty in the Irish longitudinal study on ageing cohort. These health associations contribute to evidence needed to optimise micronutrient status for health in the older adult population.

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The Impact of the Pandemic on Health and Quality of Life of Informal Caregivers of Older People: Results from a Cross-National European Survey in an Age-Related Perspective

Socci,

Di Rosa,

Quattrini

et al. 2024

Applied Research Quality Life

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During the COVID-19 outbreak, the care services interruption/delay resulted in increased amount of care for informal caregivers of older people with long-term care needs. This study aimed at understanding how the Pandemic affected physical health, mental well-being and quality of life of older people’ informal caregivers of different ages and to what extent starting caregiving affected such life realms among new caregivers. An online survey was carried out in Winter 2020–2021 targeted to informal caregivers living in 16 European countries. A sub-sample of 848 adult (aged 18–64) was compared to another of 542 older (over 65) informal caregivers. People who started caring during the Pandemic were also identified and the impact of the Pandemic on the three life realms of this group were analysed separately by gender and age. The differences between the two groups of adult and older caregivers were estimated using logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders. Analyses were repeated after propensity score matching. During the second Pandemic wave hitting Europe in Winter 2020-21, regardless of age, being female entailed a worsening in physical health, mental well-being and quality of life, in line with previous research Also new caregivers were mostly females and their physical health and quality of life were worsened by caregiving. Gender-specific work-life balance policies and measures are needed to support female working caregivers. More attention should be paid to older female caregivers through scheduled physical and mental health screenings and home visits. Future studies on the topic in a gender and intergenerational perspective are encouraged.

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Caring in the time of COVID-19, longitudinal trends in well-being and mental health in carers in Ireland: Evidence from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

Cited by 9 publications

References 51 publications

Unpaid caregiving and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic—A systematic review of the quantitative literature

Unpaid caregiving and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic—A systematic review of the quantitative literature

Sustaining an ageing population: the role of micronutrients in frailty and cognitive impairment

The Impact of the Pandemic on Health and Quality of Life of Informal Caregivers of Older People: Results from a Cross-National European Survey in an Age-Related Perspective

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