Examination of the Healthy Caregiver Effect among Older Adults: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Clinical Section: Research Article

Li L.a,b· Wister A.V.c· Mitchell B.A.d

Author affiliations

aSchool of Social Work, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB, Canada
bGerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada
cDepartment of Gerontology & Gerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada
dDepartment of Gerontology & Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview

Abstract of Clinical Section: Research Article

Received: April 08, 2022
Accepted: July 02, 2022
Published online: September 27, 2022

Number of Print Pages: 12
Number of Figures: 0
Number of Tables: 3

ISSN: 0304-324X (Print)
eISSN: 1423-0003 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/GER

Abstract

Introduction: The Healthy Caregiver Hypothesis (HCH) suggests that caregiving is associated with beneficial health impacts for family caregivers. However, mixed results have been reported, particularly when different levels of caregiving intensity were examined. This study analyzes the relationship between caregiving intensity and three health indicators (functional health, chronic illness, and self-rated general health) among Canadian older adults over 3 years. Methods: We drew upon a subsample of 11,344 participants aged 65 years and older from the Baseline and Follow-up 1 data of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and used linear mixed models to test the hypothesis based on different levels of caregiving intensity. Results: Older adults who provided low-intensity care recently or continuously reported better functional health and self-rated health than noncaregivers. In contrast, older adults with low-intensity caregiving responsibility reported more chronic conditions over time compared to noncaregivers, but this association was not found for high-intensity caregivers. Discussion/Conclusion: This study elucidates the HCH by incorporating caregiving intensity to understand patterns of better functional health and perceived health but more chronic conditions. The findings yielded from different health indicators suggest the impact of caregiving on health may be domain specific.

© 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel

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First-Page Preview

Abstract of Clinical Section: Research Article

Received: April 08, 2022
Accepted: July 02, 2022
Published online: September 27, 2022

Number of Print Pages: 12
Number of Figures: 0
Number of Tables: 3

ISSN: 0304-324X (Print)
eISSN: 1423-0003 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/GER

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