Are there gender, racial or relationship differences in caregiver task difficulty, depressive symptoms and life changes among stroke family caregivers?

Brain Inj. 2015;29(1):17-24. doi: 10.3109/02699052.2014.947631. Epub 2014 Aug 20.

Abstract

Objective: To examine differences in caregiver perceptions of task difficulty, depressive symptoms and life changes based on caregiver characteristics of gender, race and type of relationship to the person with stroke.

Methods: A sample of 243 stroke caregivers (females n = 191; males n = 52; non-African Americans n = 184; African Americans n = 59; non-spouses n = 127; spouses n = 116) were interviewed by telephone within 8 weeks of the survivor's discharge to home. Measures included the Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale (OCBS) for task difficulty, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms and Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale (BCOS) for life changes. Three general linear models computed differences in OCBS, PHQ9 and OCBS scores.

Results: Significant differences were found on the OCBS for females (p < 0.001) and African American spouses (p < 0.048); on the PHQ9 for females (p < 0.001), non-African Americans (p = 0.047), spouses (p = 0.003) and African-American spouses (p = 0.010); and on the BCOS for females (p = 0.008) and non-African Americans (p = 0.033).

Conclusions: Findings suggest that female and non-African American stroke caregivers are relatively more likely to experience task difficulty, depressive symptoms and negative life changes as a result of providing care. African American spouses were also at risk. Tailoring interventions based on caregivers' characteristics may improve outcomes.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01275495.

Keywords: Burden; caregiver; demographics; depressive symptoms; life changes; stroke.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Climacteric / psychology
  • Depression / etiology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life / psychology
  • Sex Factors
  • Stroke Rehabilitation*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Task Performance and Analysis

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01275495