Exploring Changes in Caregiver Burden and Caregiving Intensity due to COVID-19

• Main Authors: Steven A. Cohen DrPH, Zachary J. Kunicki PhD, MS, MPH, Megan M. Drohan MA, Mary L. Greaney PhD, MPH
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-02-01
• Series: Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721421999279

This study explored self-reported changes in caregiving intensity (CI) and caregiver burden (CB) among informal caregivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic overall and by gender. Informal caregivers for someone age 50+ completed a survey via Amazon’s MTurk in June 2020. Participants reported changes in CI and CB due to COVID-19 and provided demographic information. Multinomial logistic regression models assessed changes in CI and CB attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic overall and by gender. The sample ( n  = 835) was 68.5% male and had an average age of 34 years ( SD 9.8); 55.7% had increased CI, and 53.1% had increased CB attributed to the pandemic. Increased CB due to COVID-19 was associated with increased CI (OR 5.67, 95% CI 3.92–8.00). Male caregivers with decreased CI due to COVID-19 were nearly seven times as likely as those with no change in CI to have reduced CB due to COVID-19 (OR 6.91, 95% CI 3.29–14.52). Women with decreased CI due to COVID-19 were over eight times as likely to have reduced CB due to COVID (OR 8.30, 95% CI 2.66–25.91). Results indicate that many caregivers experienced increases in CI and CB since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that these changes are complex and vary by gender.