Informal caregiving, poor mental health, and subjective cognitive decline: Results from a population-based sample
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
12-1-2020
Abstract
The current study examined potential gender differences in the associations between informal caregiving, poor mental health, and subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Data were obtained from the U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 16,042; 9,410 women, 6,632 men). Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to obtain adjusted βs and odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) depicting the association between informal caregiving, poor mental health, and SCD overall and by gender. Caregiving was positively associated with poor mental health among men (adjusted β = 2.60; 95% CI [2.59, 2.62]) and women (adjusted β = 0.40; 95% CI [0.23, 0.57]). Poor mental health was positively associated with SCD among men (adjusted OR = 1.05; 95% CI [1.02, 1.08]) and women (adjusted OR = 1.07; 95% CI [1.04, 1.10]). Poor mental health may be associated with SCD, irrespective of gender, and additional studies are needed that will identify key variables influencing SCD among male and female informal caregivers.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Volume
46
Issue
12
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Brown, Monique J., and Steven A. Cohen. "Informal caregiving, poor mental health, and subjective cognitive decline: Results from a population-based sample." Journal of Gerontological Nursing 46, 12 (2020): 31-41. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20201106-04.