This study compares the well-being of rural caregivers with that of the general population and explores the potential drivers of poorer outcomes.
Patient-caregiver dyads (n = 241) residing in regional or remote Queensland, Australia, reported on QoL, chronic illness, caregiver burden, depression, anxiety and stress. Caregiver outcomes were compared with population norms and patient outcomes. Multiple regressions were conducted to identify factors associated with poorer caregiver outcomes.
Caregivers reported lower mental health-related QoL (M = 0.436, 95% CI = 0.410-0.462) in comparison with age-matched population norms (M = 0.556, 95% CI = 0.532-0.580). No differences existed between caregiver and population norms for anxiety, stress and depression. Caregiver chronic illness and higher burden were associated with poorer mental and physical QoL, depression, anxiety and stress (η2 s ranging from 0.03 to 0.30). These associations were slightly stronger for male caregivers when compared with female caregivers (η2 s ranging from 0.03 to 0.08).
It is vital that efforts are made to improve rural caregivers' mental and emotional well-being. Interventions that support caregivers with chronic conditions reduce caregiver burden and take into consideration the unique experience of male caregivers will go some way to addressing this. Future research is needed to identify other drivers of health outcomes in this group.
European journal of cancer care. 2022 Apr 11 [Epub ahead of print]
Belinda C Goodwin, Fiona Crawford-Williams, Michael Ireland, Sonja March, Suzanne K Chambers, Joanne F Aitken, Jeff Dunn
Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley., Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield., Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.