Psychosocial and cognitive health differences by caregiver status among older Mexican Americans

Angelica P. Herrera, Carolyn A. Mendez-Luck, Janice D. Crist, Matthew Lee Smith, Ruth Warre, Marcia G. Ory, Kyriakos Markides

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study identifies the risk and protective factors associated with informal caregiving by older (≥70 years) Mexican Americans and profiles caregiving arrangements. Overall, a greater number of informal caregivers (n = 92) were married and female. They also had higher physical functioning and better cognition than non-caregivers (n = 1,888) but fewer visited a physician regularly. Informal caregivers also showed an increased risk of depressive symptoms. A third of caregivers spent more than 20 h/day caregiving and the majority (84%) of care recipients were family members. In order to support the efforts of this disproportionately burdened caregiver group, increased social support and healthcare services are needed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)61-72
Number of pages12
JournalCommunity Mental Health Journal
Volume49
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2013

Keywords

  • Cognition
  • Depression
  • Informal caregiving
  • Mexican Americans

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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