Caring for
an aging or ill relative or spouse can be difficult, but it also can strain the
caregiver's physical and mental
health. That's according to a new study
published in the March issue of Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
Researchers from Indiana University in Bloomington studied 3,000 women between
the ages of 50 and 65 to assess how being a caregiver impacted their emotional
and physicial well-being. The study found
emotional distress worsened the longer the woman was acting as a caregiver.
However, physical limitations, such as difficulty standing, stooping, picking up
objects, walking or using the stairs peaked early in the caregiver's role and
then leveled off. Researchers say women may adapt to the physical demands of
being a caregiver, but the job still may take a toll on them
emotionally. "These findings provide new
information about the health effects of caregiving and have broader implications
for understanding how women's involvement in multiple roles affects their health
and well-being," says lead researcher Eliza K. Pavalko. "At least half of
American women will care for a disabled family member during their
lifetime." As more Americans live well
into their 70s, 80s and 90s, the number of people caring for a disabled, aging
or ill relative or spouse is also expected to rise. The issue of caregiving has
recently caught the attention of the federal government. Researchers say all
levels of government need to implement better policies to help
caregivers. This study was funded by the
National Institute of Aging, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the
Center for Aging Research at Indiana University. --ByKatrina Woznicki
