Work overload degree and characterization of caregivers of older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective: To determinate the association between work overload degree and sociodemographic characteristics of informal caregivers of older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Material and Methods: Quantitative, descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study of 83 informal caregivers of older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, coming from the northeast sector of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. The Zarit Scale was used to measure the overload degree, and items regarding sociodemographic characteristics were included. Results: The profile of the caregiver with tendency to work overload was: woman (81.9%), housewife (47%), with an average age of 40 years, married (53%), daughter of the older adult (72.3%), low schooling (66.1%), with a monthly income lower than or equal to $6,799 Mexican pesos (51.8%), one to three years acting as caregiver (54.2%), and dedicating more than 17 hours per day to provide care to the patient (51.8%). The 48.2% of the caregivers showed intense work overload, 44.6% absence of work overload and 7.2% slight work overload. A statistically significant association was found (p=0.02) between the degree of work overload and the marital status and occupation variables. Conclusions: The statistically significant association indicates that marital status and occupation is related to the caregiver's perceived work overload degree. It is relevant to propose interventions addressed to these characteristics in order to reduce the work overload, which is a risk for the caregiver's health with the aforementioned profile, since it is related to greater odds of medical, psychiatric, and social morbidity and mortality.