1. Health status, health behaviours and anxiety symptoms of older male caregivers: Findings from the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project.
- Author
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Shu CC, Cumming RG, Kendig HL, Blyth FM, Waite LM, Le Couteur DG, Handelsman DJ, and Naganathan V
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Humans, Logistic Models, Male, Social Support, Anxiety epidemiology, Caregivers psychology, Health Behavior, Health Status
- Abstract
Objective: To explore differences between older male caregivers and non-caregivers on health status, health behaviours and well-being, including symptoms of anxiety., Methods: Data were collected through self-completed questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with 1705 community living men aged ≥70 in the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project., Results: Eleven per cent of older men were caregivers, of whom 81.7% were looking after their wives or partners. Older male caregivers did not have worse physical health or more depressive symptoms than non-caregivers, but being a caregiver was associated with increased likelihood of reporting anxiety symptoms (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.39-3.87). Caregivers had similar levels and frequencies of leisure activities but did more housework activities than non-caregivers., Conclusion: Higher anxiety levels were the main adverse health condition in older male caregivers. Strategies to assist minimising anxiety for caregivers should be a target of interventions., (© 2017 AJA Inc.)
- Published
- 2017
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