A Cross-Sectional Study about the Associations between Physical Activity Level, Self-Perceived Health Perception and Mental Health in Informal Caregivers of Elderly or People with Chronic Conditions in Spain

Ángel Denche-Zamorano, Laura Muñoz-Bermejo, Jorge Carlos-Vivas, María Mendoza-Muñoz, Juan Manuel Franco-García, Jorge Rojo-Ramos, Alejandro Vega-Muñoz, Nicolás Contreras-Barraza and Sabina Barrios-Fernandez
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Ángel Denche-Zamorano: Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain
Laura Muñoz-Bermejo: Social Impact and Innovation in Health (InHEALTH), University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain
Jorge Carlos-Vivas: Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain
María Mendoza-Muñoz: Research Group on Physical and Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life (PHYQOL), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain
Juan Manuel Franco-García: Health Economy Motricity and Education (HEME), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain
Jorge Rojo-Ramos: Social Impact and Innovation in Health (InHEALTH), University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain
Alejandro Vega-Muñoz: Public Policy Observatory, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago 7500912, Chile
Nicolás Contreras-Barraza: Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar 2531015, Chile
Sabina Barrios-Fernandez: Social Impact and Innovation in Health (InHEALTH), University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Providing informal care for older people, or people with chronic conditions, is associated with poorer physical and mental health and reduced quality of life. This task, in many cases, often relies on the women in the immediate family. Physical activity (PA) is a tool to enhance caregivers’ physical and mental health and their quality of life. Thus, this study aimed to analyse the associations between the physical activity level (PAL), self-perceived health (SPH) and mental health (SM) and its factors (positive coping, self-esteem, and stress) by conducting a cross-sectional study by using data from in the National Health Survey 2017 (ENSE 2017), the last one before the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample included 2225 caregivers (866 men and 1361 women). Descriptive analysis and non-parametric statistical tests, including chi-square, the Kruskal–Wallis test, the Mann–Whitney U test, and the Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient, were used. Dependence relationships were found between PAL and SPH and MH and their factors. The population groups that performed moderate or vigorous PA showed better results in both SPH and MH. Women scored worse than men in all the variables analysed. Hence, intense, or moderate PA practice may improve SPH and MH in Spanish informal caregivers, requiring the implementation of policies and programs considering the differences found between men and women in PAL, SPH, and MH.

Keywords: caregivers; physical activity; mental health; physical health; self-perceived health; national survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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