Caregiving is often linked to poor health outcomes. This is hardly surprising, as the role can be isolating, stressful, physically demanding and high-intensity. Some caregivers give up parts of their own life to perform the role, such as sacrificing time, income or even their job.
Potential negative effects include damage to psychological health, increased mortality and increased risk of various health conditions.
There are also many areas of secondary strain. This includes cases where caregiving creates challenges in other parts of life, such as in relationships or with employment.
With so many factors involved, the negative association between caregiving and health seems pretty cut and dry. Yet, one recent study contradicts this commonly held view. Discussions on the study have suggested that the impact of caregiving on health is much smaller than is often assumed.
The Study In Question
The research study was published in March 2019, in the journal The Gerontologist. The main author was David L. Roth from the Center on Aging and Health in John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
It was a meta-analysis that examined 30 different papers on the levels of inflammatory and immune molecules in caregivers.
The work was inspired by some statistical problems in some recent work in the field. As a result, Roth and his colleagues decided to take a closer look at the research and claims.
The study considered papers from 1987 to 2016. This included details on 86 biomarkers. The total sample size included 3,640 noncaregivers and 1,848 caregivers.
The authors found multiple problems with the current evidence in the field, including:
- Many of the studies were small, often with less than 50 caregivers. Small sample sizes limit the statistical strength of the results, making it difficult to compare outcomes.
- There were differences in recruiting. Many of the studies recruited caregivers and noncaregivers from different locations. This pattern increases the risk for bias, as there were likely to be many differences between the groups that had nothing to do with caregiving.
- While a statistically significant effect was found, this was small and may not be clinically significant. This pattern means that, in practice, some caregivers might see a slight negative impact on their immune and inflammatory molecules. That effect may not be strong enough to have any health impact or could just have a subtle impact. Either way, the evidence clearly suggests that caregiver stress has a minimal impact on immune system function and inflammation.
If you want to know more, the paper can be found here, although full access is not free.
What Does This Mean?
The recent study may suggest a low impact of caregiving on health – but it only presents one part of the story.
The biggest challenge is that the authors focused on just one narrow area. They were looking at the outcomes of a weakened immune system and inflammation, with caregiver stress as the possible causal agent.
The study outcomes do show that caregiver stress is very unlikely to cause increased inflammation and decreased immune system function. But, the study doesn’t speak to any other links between caregiving and health.
For example, some caregivers find that they regularly choose the person that they are caring for over themselves. As a result, caregivers may end up seeing a doctor less often than they should. They may also lack the time or energy to eat well or to get enough exercise.
There are many different mechanisms by which caregiving can impact health. These won’t all apply in every situation – but there can be no doubt that caregiving can compromise health.
Situation-Specific Outcomes
As multiple studies have highlighted, caregivers are not a single group of people. Instead, caregivers come from a wide array of backgrounds and vary in their levels of vulnerability. Some may be particularly susceptible to negative health outcomes, while others may not be.
This pattern may be why some studies have found negative links between caregiving and health, while other research has failed to find such a connection.
Indeed, some caregivers experience significant benefits from their role. They might not face any caregiving-related strain. Research has even shown reduced mortality for some caregivers.
These outcomes mean that the impacts of caregiving can be positive or negative. Which is the case will depend on a range of factors, such as the individual, the caregiving situation and the amount of physical strain.
Why Consider Caregiving and Health?
The link between caregiving and health means that it is important to carefully consider whether you become a caregiver. You should also evaluate your role along the way, especially if any significant changes occur.
Evaluating as you go is especially important. The strains of caregiving tend to add up over time. The caregiving role can also get progressively more difficult. This means that the health impacts can easily creep up on you.
Another aspect is being aware of your own situation. Research shows that vulnerable caregivers are more likely to experience difficulty when providing care. The caregiving environment and requirements may even be dangerous for them.
It’s easy to think of this as a ‘selfish’ idea. After all, your family member probably needs support regardless and their needs may seem stronger than yours. You may also think that the role cannot be all that bad, especially in the short-term.
As it turns out, your own needs aren’t the only reason for considering whether or not to be a caregiver.
If being a caregiver compromises your health, it’s also likely to impact your ability to provide care. This is hardly surprising. No one performs their best when they are tired and stressed.
You might even find that caregiving isn’t the best solution for your family member. Some people may need more intensive support than caregiving can provide. Alternatively, their support needs may be relatively minor, but they someone present to ensure that they remain safe. These situations may require another solution, such as assisted living.
Final Thoughts
While caregiving is an important role and provides much-needed support, these factors show that consideration is needed. Think about your own health, along with whether providing long-term support is realistic. If you are concerned about these areas, it may be worth looking into alternative options, even just to see what is out there.
One final area is your own health. Caregivers need to take care of their own needs, which includes the use of self-care practices. Self-care is one of those things that sounds easy on paper and isn’t so simple in practice. Even so, the more self-care you can do, the better you can support yourself and the person that you’re caring for.
The practice of self-compassion is also important. This has the potential to help reduce caregiving stress and strain, making it easier to manage in challenging situations.
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