Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Aging Ment Health. 2022 Mar;26(3):563-569. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1901260. Epub 2021 Mar 22.
Older adults providing unpaid care to a relative or friend during the COVID-19 pandemic may have diminished self-efficacy in managing their own chronic illness, especially in the context of more complex self-management. We evaluated whether adults aged 50 and older with caregiving roles are more likely to report reduced illness self-efficacy since the pandemic, and whether this link is exacerbated by a higher number of conditions.
Participants (105 caregivers and 590 noncaregivers) residing in Michigan (82.6%) and 33 other U.S. states completed one online survey between May 14 and July 9, 2020.
Controlling for sociodemographic and health characteristics, stressors related to COVID-19, and behavioral and psychosocial changes since the pandemic, caregivers were more likely than noncaregivers to report reduced illness self-efficacy when they had a higher number of chronic conditions.
These findings highlight the importance of maintaining caregivers' self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic and in future public health crises.
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，为亲属或朋友提供无偿护理的老年人在管理自身慢性病方面的自我效能感可能会降低，尤其是在自我管理更为复杂的情况下。我们评估了自大流行以来，是否有 50 岁及以上有照顾角色的成年人更有可能报告疾病自我效能感降低，以及这种关联是否因更多疾病而加剧。
参与者（105 名照顾者和 590 名非照顾者）居住在密歇根州（82.6%）和美国其他 33 个州，于 2020 年 5 月 14 日至 7 月 9 日之间完成了一项在线调查。
在控制社会人口统计学和健康特征、与 COVID-19 相关的压力源以及大流行以来的行为和心理社会变化后，当照顾者有更多慢性疾病时，他们比非照顾者更有可能报告疾病自我效能感降低。
这些发现强调了在 COVID-19 大流行期间以及在未来的公共卫生危机中维持照顾者自我保健的重要性。
