Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Quality of Life and Health Determinants of Informal Caregivers Aged 65 Years and Over

Fanny Buckinx
ORCID logo ,
Stéphane Adam
,
Mylène Aubertin-Leheudre
,
Marie De Saint Hubert
,
Alexandre Mouton
,
Florence Potier
,
Jean-Yves Reginster
,
Olivier Bruyère
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 4 October 2023 / Approved: 4 October 2023 / Online: 9 October 2023 (09:37:01 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Buckinx, F.; Adam, S.; Aubertin-Leheudre, M.; De Saint Hubert, M.; Mouton, A.; Potier, F.; Reginster, J.-Y.; Bruyere, O. Quality of Life and Health Determinants of Informal Caregivers Aged 65 Years and Over. Epidemiologia 2023, 4, 464-482. Buckinx, F.; Adam, S.; Aubertin-Leheudre, M.; De Saint Hubert, M.; Mouton, A.; Potier, F.; Reginster, J.-Y.; Bruyere, O. Quality of Life and Health Determinants of Informal Caregivers Aged 65 Years and Over. Epidemiologia 2023, 4, 464-482.

Abstract

Background: Informal caregivers' own quality of life, health status, and determinants are poorly understood despite their concerns for the health of the individuals they assist. Objectives: To compare the quality of life and the health determinants of older informal caregivers with those of older adults without caregiving responsibilities. Methods: An online survey was designed to investigate the quality of life and the health determinants of people aged 65 years and over, with a focus on informal caregivers. In addition to socio-demographic data, the number of informal caregiver and the Zarit scale of caregiver burden were collected. Quality of life (SF-12) and health determinants (access to technology and level of physical activity (IPAQ)) were assessed and compared between informal caregivers and the others. Results: A total of 111 participants (70 ± 3.83 years, 71.2% of women). The majority of respondents (91.8%) were Belgian. One third of the respondents identified themselves as informal caregiver and declared to have severe burden (61.9±15.2/88). Socio-demographic characteristics and access to technology were similar between informal caregivers and non-caregivers (p>0.05). However, informal caregivers have a lower SF-12 score in the mental score domain (44.3±10.2 vs; 50.7±7.0; p=0.004) and a lower level of physical activity (434±312 METS/min/week vs.1126±815 METS/min/week; p=0.01) than their peers. Conclusions: Informal caregivers reported lower quality of life and lower level of physical activity than their peers. Given the recognized importance of physical activity for overall health, this survey highlights the need to promote physical activity among older informal caregivers.

Keywords

caregivers; survey; health determinants; physical activity; older people

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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