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Depressive symptoms among informal caregivers of older adults: insights from the Singapore Survey on Informal Caregiving

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2012

Chetna Malhotra ,
Rahul Malhotra ,
Truls Østbye ,
David Matchar  and
Angelique Chan
Chetna Malhotra*
Affiliation:
Program in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore
Rahul Malhotra
Affiliation:
Program in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore
Truls Østbye
Affiliation:
Program in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
David Matchar
Affiliation:
Program in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore
Angelique Chan
Affiliation:
Program in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Chetna Malhotra, Program in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, Level 4, 169857Singapore. Phone: +65 6516 5692; Fax: +65 6534 8632. Email: chetna.malhotra@duke-nus.edu.sg.
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Abstract

Background: This paper determines care recipient and caregiver characteristics and caregiving dimensions – associated with depression among caregivers of older adults, using path analysis and assesses whether the identified path model differs between spousal and adult child caregivers.

Methods: Data from 1,190 dyads comprising care recipients (community-dwelling adults aged ≥75 years with at least one activity of daily living (ADL) limitation) and caregivers (family member/friend most involved in providing care/ensuring provision of care to care recipient), who were interviewed through the Singapore Survey on Informal Caregiving (2010–2011), were used. Using path analysis, we assessed the direct and indirect associations between primary stressors (care recipient's ADL and instrumental ADL status, and memory and behavior problems), caregiver health status, receipt of assistance from a foreign domestic worker/maid, amount of caregiving, negative reaction to caregiving, caregiver's self-esteem, perceived emotional support, and caregiver depressive symptoms.

Results: Our analysis showed that primary stressors, receipt of assistance from a foreign domestic worker/maid, perceived emotional support, and caregiver health status were directly or indirectly associated with caregiver depressive symptoms, and this association was mediated by negative reaction to caregiving. Caregiver self-esteem mediated the relationship between perceived emotional support and negative reaction to caregiving only among adult child caregivers.

Conclusions: The results provide insights into factors associated with depressive symptoms among spousal and adult child caregivers, and help identify targeted interventions for improving caregiver mood.

Keywords

carersdepression
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Special Issue 8: Focus on late life depression , August 2012 , pp. 1335 - 1346
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

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