Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Caregivers of People with an Intellectual Disability, in Comparison to Carers of Those with Other Disabilities and with Mental Health Issues: A Multicountry Study

Andrew Wormald (), Eimear McGlinchey, Maureen D’Eath, Iracema Leroi, Brian Lawlor, Philip McCallion, Mary McCarron, Roger O’Sullivan and Yaohua Chen
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Andrew Wormald: Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Eimear McGlinchey: Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Maureen D’Eath: Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Iracema Leroi: The Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Brian Lawlor: The Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Philip McCallion: College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
Mary McCarron: Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Roger O’Sullivan: Institute of Public Health, D08 NH90 Dublin, Ireland
Yaohua Chen: The Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Carers supporting people with an intellectual disability often rely on others to manage the burden of care. This research aims to compare the differences between carer groups and understand the predictors of loneliness changes and burden for carers of people with an intellectual disability. Data from the international CLIC study were analysed. In total, 3930 carers responded from four groups; people who care for those with mental health difficulties ( n = 491), dementia ( n = 1888), physical disabilities ( n = 1147), and Intellectual disabilities ( n = 404). Cross tabulation and the chi-squared test were used to compare group compositions and binary logistic regression to model predictors within the intellectual disability group. A total of 65% of those caring for people with an intellectual disability experienced increased burden, and 35% of carers of people with an intellectual disability and another condition experienced more severe loneliness. Becoming severely lonely was predicted by feeling burdened by caring (AOR, 15.89) and worsening mental health (AOR, 2.13) Feeling burden was predicted by being aged between 35 and 44 (AOR, 4.24), poor mental health (AOR, 3.51), and feelings of severe loneliness prior to the pandemic (AOR, 2.45). These findings demonstrate that those who were already struggling with caring experienced the greatest difficulties during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Keywords: carers; intellectual disability; loneliness; isolation; burden; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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