Depressive Symptoms among Former Spousal Caregivers: Comparing Stressors, Resources, and Circumstances of Caregiving Cessation among Older Husbands and Wives.
J Gerontol Soc Work
; 62(6): 682-700, 2019.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31352869
ABSTRACT
Little research focuses on the mental health of caregivers (CGs) who stop providing care to their community-dwelling spouse. We examine depressive symptoms of former primary CG spouses who stopped caregiving over a two-year follow-up period when the care recipient (CR) (1) no longer has functional problems; (2) continues having functional problems; or (3) dies. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2000-2014), we located 2,370 couples who were both 50+ at baseline and where one partner provided help with ADL and/or IADL limitations but did not do so two years later. OLS regressions stratified by gender indicated that both male and female former spousal CGs whose CR died had significantly more depressive symptoms than those who ceased caregiving when their spouse did or did not still have functional problems. Former wife CGs who were older and whose husbands had more baseline ADLs had fewer follow-up depressive symptoms; wife CGs whose husbands had a nursing home stay had more depressive symptoms. Former husband CGs who had provided longer monthly hours of care had fewer follow-up symptoms. Findings underscore the importance of targeting mental and physical health services to both former caregiving husbands and wives, especially after spousal death.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Conducta de Elección
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Cuidadores
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Esposos
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Depresión
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Qualitative_research
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Gerontol Soc Work
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos