Caregiver wellbeing during Covid-19: does being hopeful play a role?
Background Informal (unpaid) carers represent a core component of health and social care systems. However, their experiences, health impacts and care needs during Covid-19 have been largely overlooked. This study aimed to explore the health and wellbeing impacts of Covid-19 on carers and the contrib...
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doaj-a35da8f03b4e4b30ab3c195be615df5f2021-09-23T04:41:55ZengElsevierJournal of Affective Disorders Reports2666-91532021-12-016100239Caregiver wellbeing during Covid-19: does being hopeful play a role?Juliana Onwumere0Elizabeth Kuipers1Emilie Wildman2Ava Mason3Daniel Stahl4King's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BX, United Kingdom; Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, Henry Wellcome Building, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Box PO77, 16 DeCrespigny Park Road, London SE5 8AF, United KingdomKing's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BX, United KingdomKing's College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, United KingdomUniversity College London, Division of Psychiatry, London, United KingdomKing's College London, Department of Biostatistics & Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, United KingdomBackground Informal (unpaid) carers represent a core component of health and social care systems. However, their experiences, health impacts and care needs during Covid-19 have been largely overlooked. This study aimed to explore the health and wellbeing impacts of Covid-19 on carers and the contribution of hopefulness.Methods Data were collected from an online survey hosted on the Qualtrics platform.Results Three hundred and sixty-nine participants consented to the survey. Data are reported on 186 participants with an 80% or higher completion rate. Most participants (> 80%) reported poor sleep quality, while nearly half the sample met case threshold for anxiety (46.2%) and 29% for depression. Mood disturbance in carers was associated with higher levels of sleep disturbances. Positive wellbeing in carers was best predicted by having a more hopeful outlook and fewer symptoms of depression.Limitations A cross-sectional survey-based design that is unable to offer no definitive conclusions about the direction of the results. The study was also limited by having carer participants as the only informants.Conclusions Though informal carers are found in all areas of society, their experiences and health correlates during Covid-19 have not attracted much research attention. The additional and unique challenges of the pandemic for the health and wellbeing needs of carers must not be overlooked as is sadly so often the case. Instead, the experiences of carers and their needs should be prioritised, publicised, and matched by needs-led interventions. Identifying carers and enquiring about their wellbeing would be a laudable first step.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915321001657COVID-19CarersCaregiversHopeFamiliesCare recipients |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Juliana Onwumere Elizabeth Kuipers Emilie Wildman Ava Mason Daniel Stahl |
spellingShingle |
Juliana Onwumere Elizabeth Kuipers Emilie Wildman Ava Mason Daniel Stahl Caregiver wellbeing during Covid-19: does being hopeful play a role? Journal of Affective Disorders Reports COVID-19 Carers Caregivers Hope Families Care recipients |
author_facet |
Juliana Onwumere Elizabeth Kuipers Emilie Wildman Ava Mason Daniel Stahl |
author_sort |
Juliana Onwumere |
title |
Caregiver wellbeing during Covid-19: does being hopeful play a role? |
title_short |
Caregiver wellbeing during Covid-19: does being hopeful play a role? |
title_full |
Caregiver wellbeing during Covid-19: does being hopeful play a role? |
title_fullStr |
Caregiver wellbeing during Covid-19: does being hopeful play a role? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Caregiver wellbeing during Covid-19: does being hopeful play a role? |
title_sort |
caregiver wellbeing during covid-19: does being hopeful play a role? |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports |
issn |
2666-9153 |
publishDate |
2021-12-01 |
description |
Background Informal (unpaid) carers represent a core component of health and social care systems. However, their experiences, health impacts and care needs during Covid-19 have been largely overlooked. This study aimed to explore the health and wellbeing impacts of Covid-19 on carers and the contribution of hopefulness.Methods Data were collected from an online survey hosted on the Qualtrics platform.Results Three hundred and sixty-nine participants consented to the survey. Data are reported on 186 participants with an 80% or higher completion rate. Most participants (> 80%) reported poor sleep quality, while nearly half the sample met case threshold for anxiety (46.2%) and 29% for depression. Mood disturbance in carers was associated with higher levels of sleep disturbances. Positive wellbeing in carers was best predicted by having a more hopeful outlook and fewer symptoms of depression.Limitations A cross-sectional survey-based design that is unable to offer no definitive conclusions about the direction of the results. The study was also limited by having carer participants as the only informants.Conclusions Though informal carers are found in all areas of society, their experiences and health correlates during Covid-19 have not attracted much research attention. The additional and unique challenges of the pandemic for the health and wellbeing needs of carers must not be overlooked as is sadly so often the case. Instead, the experiences of carers and their needs should be prioritised, publicised, and matched by needs-led interventions. Identifying carers and enquiring about their wellbeing would be a laudable first step. |
topic |
COVID-19 Carers Caregivers Hope Families Care recipients |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915321001657 |
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