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Health-related quality of life of family caregivers—Evidence from Hesse

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Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study was to analyse the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of primary family caregivers in comparison to the reference values of the average population.

Subjects and methods

Data collection took place in the Werra-Meißner district in 2009 with a response rate of 102 primary family caregivers of frail elderly people. The health-related quality of life was measured with the Short Form 36 health survey (SF 36) and compared with the German reference values.

Results

Compared to the health values of the normative sample, primary caregivers show significantly lower rates in all dimensions of health-related quality of life. In particular, caregivers between the ages of 53 to 61 report extremely low health values. Caregiving women compared to non-caregiving women have highly significant differences in all subscales of the SF 36. Caregiving men also report highly significant differences to non-caregiving men in all dimensions of the SF 36 except for Physical Functioning and General Health (p < 0.01). Caregivers in general and especially caregiving women aged 53 to 61 (midlife) were identified as at-risk groups for poor health. The latter report lower vitality and well-being, which may be a consequence of both social isolation and social impacts from multiple role demands.

Conclusion

The identified high-risk groups of family caregivers, caregivers in midlife and especially caregiving women in midlife, should be supported by social measures, e.g., training courses for family caregivers, particularly in their home setting, and various types of respite care in order to sustain their health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human and Economic Sciences, UMIT-Health and Life Sciences University, Eduard Wallnöfer-Zentrum 1, 6060, Hall/Tyrol, Austria

    Birgit Rösler-Schidlack & Herwig Ostermann

  2. Academic Center Vienna, UMIT-Health and Life Sciences University, Opernring 5/2, 1010, Vienna, Austria

    Harald Stummer

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  1. Birgit Rösler-Schidlack
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  2. Harald Stummer
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Correspondence to Birgit Rösler-Schidlack.

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Rösler-Schidlack, B., Stummer, H. & Ostermann, H. Health-related quality of life of family caregivers—Evidence from Hesse. J Public Health 19, 269–280 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0369-z

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