Care burden, loneliness, and social isolation in caregivers of people with physical and brain health conditions in English-speaking regions: Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grycuk, E; Chen, Y; Almirall-Sanchez, A; Higgins, D; Galvin, M; Kane, J; Kinchin, I; Lawlor, B; Rogan, C; Russell, G; O'Sullivan, R; Leroi, I

Care burden, loneliness, and social isolation in caregivers of people with physical and brain health conditions in English-speaking regions: Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grycuk, E Chen, Y Almirall-Sanchez, A Higgins, D Galvin, M Kane, J Kinchin, I

Lawlor, B Rogan, C Russell, G O'Sullivan, R Leroi, I

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Publisher:: WILEY
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 2022, 37, (6)
Issue Date:: 2022-06

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Grycuk, E
dc.contributor.author	Chen, Y
dc.contributor.author	Almirall-Sanchez, A
dc.contributor.author	Higgins, D
dc.contributor.author	Galvin, M
dc.contributor.author	Kane, J
dc.contributor.author	Kinchin, I https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0133-2763
dc.contributor.author	Lawlor, B
dc.contributor.author	Rogan, C
dc.contributor.author	Russell, G
dc.contributor.author	O'Sullivan, R
dc.contributor.author	Leroi, I
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-23T05:40:11Z
dc.date.available	2022-04-27
dc.date.available	2022-08-23T05:40:11Z
dc.date.issued	2022-06
dc.identifier.citation	Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 2022, 37, (6)
dc.identifier.issn	0885-6230
dc.identifier.issn	1099-1166
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160744
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Public health restrictions due to the COVID-19 (SARS CoV-2) pandemic have disproportionately affected informal caregivers of people living with long term health conditions. We aimed to explore levels of care burden, loneliness, and social isolation among caregivers of people with enduring physical and brain health conditions in English-speaking regions worldwide, by investigating outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional anonymous online survey data from 2287 English-speaking caregivers of people with long term health conditions from four English-speaking regions (UK, Ireland, USA, New Zealand) included measures of care burden, loneliness, and social isolation, reported before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyses were descriptive, followed by an ordinal regression model for predictors of burden. RESULTS: Compared to pre-pandemic levels, all caregivers experienced a significant increase in burden, loneliness, and isolation. Caregivers of people with both brain health and physical conditions were the most burdened and had the highest levels of loneliness and isolation compared to caregivers of people with either a brain health or physical condition only. The increase in care burden among caregivers of people with brain health challenges was associated with caregiver's gender, moderate and severe emotional loneliness, magnitude and frequency of isolation during the pandemic, and care circumstances (cohabitation with the care recipient, restrictions on the ability to provide care). CONCLUSIONS: Health and social care interventions should target caregivers' care circumstances and psychological outcomes, particularly in women, accounting for the significant additional burden of care, loneliness, and isolation resulting from pandemic-related restrictions.
dc.format	Print
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	WILEY
dc.relation.ispartof	Int J Geriatr Psychiatry
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/gps.5734
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1701 Psychology, 1702 Cognitive Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Geriatrics
dc.subject.mesh	Brain
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Caregiver Burden
dc.subject.mesh	Caregivers
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Loneliness
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	Social Isolation
dc.subject.mesh	Brain
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Social Isolation
dc.subject.mesh	Loneliness
dc.subject.mesh	Caregivers
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Caregiver Burden
dc.title	Care burden, loneliness, and social isolation in caregivers of people with physical and brain health conditions in English-speaking regions: Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	37
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
utslib.for	1702 Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHERE - Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-08-23T05:40:09Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	37
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Public health restrictions due to the COVID-19 (SARS CoV-2) pandemic have disproportionately affected informal caregivers of people living with long term health conditions. We aimed to explore levels of care burden, loneliness, and social isolation among caregivers of people with enduring physical and brain health conditions in English-speaking regions worldwide, by investigating outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional anonymous online survey data from 2287 English-speaking caregivers of people with long term health conditions from four English-speaking regions (UK, Ireland, USA, New Zealand) included measures of care burden, loneliness, and social isolation, reported before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyses were descriptive, followed by an ordinal regression model for predictors of burden. RESULTS: Compared to pre-pandemic levels, all caregivers experienced a significant increase in burden, loneliness, and isolation. Caregivers of people with both brain health and physical conditions were the most burdened and had the highest levels of loneliness and isolation compared to caregivers of people with either a brain health or physical condition only. The increase in care burden among caregivers of people with brain health challenges was associated with caregiver's gender, moderate and severe emotional loneliness, magnitude and frequency of isolation during the pandemic, and care circumstances (cohabitation with the care recipient, restrictions on the ability to provide care). CONCLUSIONS: Health and social care interventions should target caregivers' care circumstances and psychological outcomes, particularly in women, accounting for the significant additional burden of care, loneliness, and isolation resulting from pandemic-related restrictions.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160744