Department of Veterans Affairs, Hines VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Womens Health Issues. 2013 Jul-Aug;23(4):e225-32. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2013.04.001.
Unique experiences, for example, trauma, of women veteran caregivers may create differences in the caregiving experience and may be associated with health concerns. We examined caregiving factors and health concerns in women veteran caregivers compared to non-veteran women (civilian) caregivers, and identified variables associated with being a woman veteran caregiver.
We conducted secondary data analyses using data from a multistate survey to examine sociodemographics, the caregiver experience (relationship to recipient, duration as caregiver, hours of care provided, area help is needed, and greatest difficulty faced as a caregiver); emotional support; life satisfaction; lifestyle behaviors; general, physical, and mental health; and chronic conditions in women informal caregivers.
Of women caregivers, more veteran caregivers provided activities of daily living (ADL) help (33%) than non-veteran caregivers (21%; p = .02). There were no differences in years as a caregiver, hours of care provided, or the relationship to the recipient. Poor sleep and poor mental health were experienced by more women veteran caregivers (vs. non-veteran), but physical health, general health, and chronic condition prevalence did not differ. Women veteran caregivers had twofold greater odds of being Black, never married, college educated, and providing ADL assistance. Odds of obesity were lower for women veteran caregivers relative to other women caregivers.
Women veteran caregivers experience health concerns, including sleeplessness, poor mental health, and some chronic conditions. Our cohort were young women, yet had concerns that may be exacerbated by being a veteran and assuming a caregiver role. Comprehensive services to support their needs as veteran patients and as caregivers are needed.
女性退伍军人照顾者可能会有独特的经历，例如创伤，这可能会导致他们在照顾经验上存在差异，并可能与健康问题有关。我们比较了女性退伍军人照顾者和非退伍军人（平民）照顾者的照顾因素和健康问题，并确定了与女性退伍军人照顾者身份相关的变量。
我们使用一项多州调查的数据进行了二次数据分析，以检查社会人口统计学特征、照顾者经历（与接受者的关系、作为照顾者的时间、提供的照顾时间、需要帮助的领域以及作为照顾者面临的最大困难）；情感支持；生活满意度；生活方式行为；一般、身体和心理健康；以及女性非正规照顾者的慢性疾病。
在女性照顾者中，提供日常生活活动（ADL）帮助的退伍军人照顾者比例（33%）高于非退伍军人照顾者（21%；p =.02）。作为照顾者的年限、提供的照顾时间或与接受者的关系没有差异。更多的女性退伍军人照顾者经历睡眠不佳和心理健康不佳，但身体状况、总体健康状况和慢性疾病患病率没有差异。与其他女性照顾者相比，女性退伍军人照顾者成为黑人、从未结婚、受过大学教育和提供 ADL 帮助的可能性是其两倍。与其他女性照顾者相比，女性退伍军人照顾者肥胖的可能性较低。
女性退伍军人照顾者存在健康问题，包括失眠、心理健康不佳和一些慢性疾病。我们的研究对象是年轻女性，但由于是退伍军人并承担照顾者的角色，她们可能会面临更严重的问题。需要为他们提供综合服务，以满足他们作为退伍军人患者和照顾者的需求。
