Factors associated with psychological distress in family caregivers: Findings from nationwide data in Japan

Abstract

Aim: Family caregivers can experience psychological distress, resulting in physical and mental health problems, and discontinuation of caregiving. This study's objective was to examine factors associated with caregiver psychological distress. Methods: We analyzed data from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016, which included 12 504 pairs of caregivers and care recipients sharing a household in Japan. Kessler's Psychological Distress Scale (K6) was used to measure caregiver psychological distress. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with caregiver psychological distress (K6 score ≥5). Results: Caregivers' median K6 score was 3 (interquartile range 0–7), and 38.6% had a K6 score ≥5. K6 scores ≥5 were positively associated with female sex (adjusted odds ratio 1.35, 95% CI 1.21–1.51), poor caregiver health status (compared with “very good,” 9.48, 95% CI 7.91–11.37 for “not very good/poor”), longer care time (compared with “help only when needed,” 1.40, 95% CI 1.25–1.58 for “almost all day”) and dementia (1.16, 95% CI 1.05–1.28), lower respiratory tract disease (1.25, 95% CI 1.06–1.49) and diabetes (1.16, 95% CI 1.00–1.33) in care recipients. K6 scores ≥5 were negatively associated with older caregiver age (compared with 20–54 years, 0.65, 95%CI 0.58–0.74 for 55–64 years, 0.54, 95%CI 0.46–0.63 for 65–74 years and 0.50, 95% CI 0.40–0.62 for ≥75 years), employment (0.88, 95% CI 0.80–0.97) and being a care recipient's child-in-law (compared with spouse 0.75, 95% CI 0.61–0.92). Conclusions: The findings identified several factors associated with caregiver psychological distress, showing that particular attention might need to be paid to caregivers with these risk factors. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 855–864.