The Impact of Transitions in Caregiving Status on Depressive Symptoms among Older Family Caregivers: Findings from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging

Kyungduk Hurh, Hin Moi Youn, Yoon Sik Park, Eun-Cheol Park and Sung-In Jang
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Kyungduk Hurh: Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
Hin Moi Youn: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Yoon Sik Park: Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
Eun-Cheol Park: Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
Sung-In Jang: Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: This study identifies the effects of transitions in caregiving status on depressive symptoms among middle-aged or older adults who care for family members with limitations in activities of daily living (ADL). Data were collected from the 2006–2018 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. A total of 7817 subjects were included. On the basis of their caregiving status transition, participants were categorized into four groups: started caregiving, continued caregiving, stopped caregiving, and noncaregivers. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10 item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Analysis using a generalized estimating equation model and subgroup analyses were conducted. Compared to noncaregivers, women who started caregiving showed more depressive symptoms in the following year (β 0.761, p < 0.0001). Regardless of sex, older adults who continued caregiving had more depressive symptoms than noncaregivers did (β 0.616, p < 0.0277 in men, and β 1.091, p < 0.0001 in women). After relinquishing caregiving responsibilities to other caregivers, participants’ depressive symptoms in the following year showed no statistically significant difference from that of noncaregivers. Thus, starting or continuing caregiving was associated with increased depressive symptoms, and those symptoms could be normalized by stopping caregiving. Intervention strategies to reduce family caregivers’ depressive symptoms are needed.

Keywords: mental health; depressive symptoms; family caregivers; caregiving status; activities of daily living (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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