Farrugia Teagan, Hewitt Alana, Bourke-Taylor Helen, Joosten Annette V
School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University (Melbourne Campus), Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
Aust Occup Ther J. 2019 Feb;66(1):23-32. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12491. Epub 2018 Jun 19.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Occupational therapists frequently work with carers and their family member who requires direct services. In Australia, women provide the majority of informal care. Carer status is determined by the provision of informal help or supervision to an older person, or a person with a disability or long-term health condition. Caregiving responsibilities can impact mental and physical health and reduce women's participation in leisure activities and the labour force. The aim of the study was to examine differences in the participation of Australian women, aged 50 years and over, with and without caregiving responsibilities, in self-selected health promoting activities, self-reported mental health and participation in physical activity.
This cross-sectional study investigated Australian women (N = 157) who completed a survey comprising demographic questions, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and the Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS). Differences between carers and non-carers in participation in health promoting activities, mental health, physical activity and labour force participation were investigated using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Carers reported significantly lower participation in health promoting activities (P < 0.001), vigorous physical activity (P = 0.001) and moderate physical activity (P = 0.009). Carers also reported significantly higher responses than non-carers, in symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress (P < 0.001). Carers were significantly more likely than non-carers to be engaged in part-time employment, with 37% of carers employed part-time and 44% of carers not working.
These findings indicate significant differences between women with and without caregiving responsibilities and their participation in health promoting activities, self-reported mental health, participation in physical activity and the labour force. Carers may benefit from occupational therapy that recognises the important role of carers in the life of their family member and supports carer's health and participation in health promoting activities.
背景/目的：职业治疗师经常与需要直接服务的护理人员及其家庭成员合作。在澳大利亚，女性提供了大部分的非正式护理。护理人员的身份是由向老年人、残疾人士或患有长期健康问题的人提供非正式帮助或监督来确定的。护理责任会影响身心健康，并减少女性参与休闲活动和劳动力市场的机会。本研究的目的是调查50岁及以上有和没有护理责任的澳大利亚女性在自我选择的健康促进活动、自我报告的心理健康以及体育活动参与方面的差异。
这项横断面研究调查了157名澳大利亚女性，她们完成了一项包含人口统计学问题、抑郁焦虑压力量表-21（DASS-21）、国际体力活动问卷简表（IPAQ-SF）和健康促进活动量表（HPAS）的调查。使用曼-惠特尼U检验和克鲁斯卡尔-沃利斯检验来研究护理人员和非护理人员在健康促进活动参与、心理健康、体育活动和劳动力参与方面的差异。
护理人员报告在健康促进活动（P < 0.001）、剧烈体育活动（P = 0.001）和中等强度体育活动（P = 0.009）方面的参与度显著较低。护理人员在抑郁、焦虑和压力症状方面的得分也显著高于非护理人员（P < 0.001）。护理人员从事兼职工作的可能性显著高于非护理人员，37%的护理人员从事兼职工作，44%的护理人员没有工作。
这些发现表明，有和没有护理责任的女性在参与健康促进活动、自我报告的心理健康、体育活动参与和劳动力市场方面存在显著差异。护理人员可能会从职业治疗中受益，这种治疗认识到护理人员在其家庭成员生活中的重要作用，并支持护理人员的健康和参与健康促进活动。
