TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological, behavioural, and physical aspects of caregiver strain in autism-caregivers
T2 - a cohort study
AU - Warreman, Eva B.
AU - Lloyd, Susan E.
AU - Nooteboom, Laura A.
AU - Leenen, Pieter J.M.
AU - Terry, Mary Beth
AU - Hoek, Hans W.
AU - van Rossum, Elisabeth F.C.
AU - Vermeiren, Robert R.J.M.
AU - Ester, Wietske A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - Background:People who give care to autistic individuals (autism-caregivers) experience higher levels of caregiver strain than people who provide care for individuals with other chronic conditions (non-autism-caregivers). This places them at higher risk for psychological, behavioural and physical health concerns. The aim of this study is to delineate psychological, behavioural, and physical aspects of caregiver strain in autism-caregivers compared to non-autism-caregivers. Methods: We included 3354 adult caregivers from the general population in the Netherlands participating in the second assessment (January, 1, 2014–December, 31, 2017) of the Lifelines Cohort. In this cohort study, using multivariable regression adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic status, we analysed psychological (anxiety and depression based on a Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and self-reported stress and perceived health), behavioural (questionnaire-assessed physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking), and physical aspects (body mass index, waist circumference, and leukocyte-counts) of caregiver strain in autism-caregivers (n = 722) compared with non-autism-caregivers (n = 2632). Findings:Autism-caregivers reported more stress (OR 3.61, 95% CI 2.60–4.99). Both anxiety (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.37–2.49) and depressive disorders (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.17–2.86) were more common in autism-caregivers than in non-autism-caregivers. Perceived health, physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking were not different between autism- and non-autism-caregivers. In autism-caregivers, lymphocyte- and monocyte-counts were lower than in non-autism-caregivers. Interpretation: In this large cohort, autism-caregivers had worse psychological health than non-autism-caregivers. Moreover, autism-caregiving might be associated with an altered immune balance. These findings underline the higher caregiver strain in autism-caregivers compared to other caregivers. This calls for increased support to autism-caregivers.
AB - Background:People who give care to autistic individuals (autism-caregivers) experience higher levels of caregiver strain than people who provide care for individuals with other chronic conditions (non-autism-caregivers). This places them at higher risk for psychological, behavioural and physical health concerns. The aim of this study is to delineate psychological, behavioural, and physical aspects of caregiver strain in autism-caregivers compared to non-autism-caregivers. Methods: We included 3354 adult caregivers from the general population in the Netherlands participating in the second assessment (January, 1, 2014–December, 31, 2017) of the Lifelines Cohort. In this cohort study, using multivariable regression adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic status, we analysed psychological (anxiety and depression based on a Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and self-reported stress and perceived health), behavioural (questionnaire-assessed physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking), and physical aspects (body mass index, waist circumference, and leukocyte-counts) of caregiver strain in autism-caregivers (n = 722) compared with non-autism-caregivers (n = 2632). Findings:Autism-caregivers reported more stress (OR 3.61, 95% CI 2.60–4.99). Both anxiety (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.37–2.49) and depressive disorders (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.17–2.86) were more common in autism-caregivers than in non-autism-caregivers. Perceived health, physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking were not different between autism- and non-autism-caregivers. In autism-caregivers, lymphocyte- and monocyte-counts were lower than in non-autism-caregivers. Interpretation: In this large cohort, autism-caregivers had worse psychological health than non-autism-caregivers. Moreover, autism-caregiving might be associated with an altered immune balance. These findings underline the higher caregiver strain in autism-caregivers compared to other caregivers. This calls for increased support to autism-caregivers.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85171689932&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102211
DO - 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102211
M3 - Article
C2 - 37767192
AN - SCOPUS:85171689932
SN - 2589-5370
VL - 64
JO - EClinicalMedicine
JF - EClinicalMedicine
M1 - 102211
ER -
