Caregiver status and illness self-efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults with chronic conditions

Abstract

Objectives

Older adults providing unpaid care to a relative or friend during the COVID-19 pandemic may have diminished self-efficacy in managing their own chronic illness, especially in the context of more complex self-management. We evaluated whether adults aged 50 and older with caregiving roles are more likely to report reduced illness self-efficacy since the pandemic, and whether this link is exacerbated by a higher number of conditions.

Methods

Participants (105 caregivers and 590 noncaregivers) residing in Michigan (82.6%) and 33 other U.S. states completed one online survey between May 14 and July 9, 2020.

Results

Controlling for sociodemographic and health characteristics, stressors related to COVID-19, and behavioral and psychosocial changes since the pandemic, caregivers were more likely than noncaregivers to report reduced illness self-efficacy when they had a higher number of chronic conditions.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the importance of maintaining caregivers’ self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic and in future public health crises.

Keywords:

• Caregiving
• chronic disease
• chronic illness
• coronavirus

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health (K01AG059829 and P30 AG015281), the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (grant number UL1TR002240), and the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research.