The Moderating Role of Self-Care Behaviors in Personal Care Aides of Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

M. Graça Pereira (), Ana Filipa Gonçalves and Laura Brito
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M. Graça Pereira: Psychology Research Centre, School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Ana Filipa Gonçalves: School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Laura Brito: School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges and work changes for formal caregivers such as personal care aides with an impact on their quality of life (QoL). This cross-sectional study aims to analyze the relationships and contribution of sociodemographic and psychological variables towards QoL including the moderating role of self-care. This study included 127 formal caregivers from Portugal who were assessed on depression, anxiety and stress (DASS-21); professional self-care (SCAP); quality of life (SF-12); COVID-19 traumatic stress (COVID-19TSC) and preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors (PCOVID-19 IBS). Professional self-care was positively associated with QoL and also moderated the relationship between distress and QoL ( p < 0.001). According to results, nursing homes should provide formal caregivers, such as personal care aides, with the professional support they need in order to promote their QoL and prevent burnout.

Keywords: self-care; formal caregivers; psychological morbidity; COVID-19 preventive behaviors; COVID-19 traumatic stress; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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