The oft-heard association between caregiving and psychological distress may have more to do with a person's history of depression and stress, and less to do with the act of caregiving itself, a new study suggests.
In a study of twins, published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine, researchers found that caregivers without a history of depression were not more likely to have depression as a caregiver compared with a non-caregiver. On the other hand, if a person had a history of depression beforehand, "caregiving may be like putting salt on the wound," study researcher Peter Vitaliano, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Washington, said in a statement.
The study included 1,228 female twins, both caregivers and non-caregivers. Of the caregivers, 36 percent did not report any distress from caregiving.
While caregivers did report more stress, depression and anxiety than non-caregivers, researchers noted that environmental factors and genetics seemed to explain the associations -- and not the act of caregiving itself.
Researchers noted that the findings are especially relevant, given the anticipated increase in Alzheimer's cases over the next decades -- and therefore, needed caregivers for these patients.
"Informal caregivers are a first line of defense against the need for institutionalization in the face of scarce public funds," the researchers wrote in the study. "Policy makers are well advised to help caregivers remain independent and maintain the highest possible quality of life, both for themselves and for their care recipients."
from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1bVeq85
via IFTTT
In a study of twins, published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine, researchers found that caregivers without a history of depression were not more likely to have depression as a caregiver compared with a non-caregiver. On the other hand, if a person had a history of depression beforehand, "caregiving may be like putting salt on the wound," study researcher Peter Vitaliano, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Washington, said in a statement.
The study included 1,228 female twins, both caregivers and non-caregivers. Of the caregivers, 36 percent did not report any distress from caregiving.
While caregivers did report more stress, depression and anxiety than non-caregivers, researchers noted that environmental factors and genetics seemed to explain the associations -- and not the act of caregiving itself.
Researchers noted that the findings are especially relevant, given the anticipated increase in Alzheimer's cases over the next decades -- and therefore, needed caregivers for these patients.
"Informal caregivers are a first line of defense against the need for institutionalization in the face of scarce public funds," the researchers wrote in the study. "Policy makers are well advised to help caregivers remain independent and maintain the highest possible quality of life, both for themselves and for their care recipients."
from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1bVeq85
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment