Influence of gender, age and income on the well-being of elderly caregivers

OBJECTIVES: To compare elderly caregivers with non-caregivers regarding their health psychosocial and functional status, and to investigate the influence of socioeconomic variables on these conditions in both groups. METHODS: A study involving elderly residents from three Brazilian cities - Parnaíba-PI, Campinas-SP and Ivoti-RS - from FIBRA study. The sample was composed of 676 older adults, 338 caregivers and 338 non-caregivers. Caregivers were identified through two questions of the Elders Life Stress Inventory (ELSI) regarding care provision. The instruments used were: the Brazilian versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List and the Lawton instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL), and 13 items of advanced activities of daily living and a scale of life satisfaction. We applied self-report questions about age, gender, family income, number of diseases and fatigue. RESULTS: The elderly caregivers were about 29% of the sample. The task of caring was more frequent among women (65.7%), aged between 65 and 74 years and among those with lower income. A higher frequency of insomnia complaint was observed among caregivers compared to non-caregivers (p=0.013). For both groups, low income influenced the quality of sleep and dependence in IADL and more depressive symptoms among caregivers (p=0.24). In addition women had a greater number of diseases and men were more restricted in social participation. Older caregivers were more dependent in IADL (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic status can influence negatively in physical health status and psychological well-being, particularly among elderly caregivers.

研究目的：比较老年照料者与非照料者的健康、社会心理及功能状态，并探究社会经济变量对两组人群上述状况的影响。

研究方法：本研究依托FIBRA研究，纳入巴西帕纳伊巴（Parnaíba-PI）、坎皮纳斯（Campinas-SP）与伊沃蒂（Ivoti-RS）三座城市的老年常住居民。最终纳入样本共676名老年人，其中照料者与非照料者各338名。照料者通过老年生活压力量表（Elders Life Stress Inventory, ELSI）中两道有关照料提供情况的问题进行界定。本研究采用的测评工具包括：巴西版老年抑郁量表（Geriatric Depression Scale）、社会支持评定量表（Interpersonal Support Evaluation List）、Lawton工具性日常生活活动能力量表（Lawton instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, IADL），以及13项高级日常生活活动条目与生活满意度量表。同时收集了年龄、性别、家庭收入、患病数量与疲劳感等自评信息。

研究结果：老年照料者约占总样本的29%。照料行为在女性群体（占比65.7%）、65~74岁年龄段以及低收入人群中更为常见。与非照料者相比，照料者的失眠主诉发生率更高（p=0.013）。对于两组人群而言，低收入均会对睡眠质量与IADL依赖程度产生负面影响，且照料者群体的抑郁症状更为显著（p=0.24）。此外，女性群体的患病数量更多，男性的社会参与受限程度更高。老年照料者的IADL依赖程度显著更高（p=0.015）。

研究结论：社会经济地位可对身体健康状态与心理福祉产生负面影响，这一效应在老年照料者群体中尤为突出。