Factors associated with symptoms of physical and emotional burden in informal caregivers of the elderly

Fatores associados aos sintomas de sobrecarga física e emocional em cuidadores informais de idosos

Factores relacionados a los síntomas de sobrecarga física y emocional en cuidadores informales de ancianos

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

to analyze the personal and work-related burden factors associated with physical and emotional symptoms of informal caregivers of the elderly.

Methods:

cross-sectional study conducted with 121 informal caregivers and 121 seniors who received care, assessed individually for the risk of: physical overload, musculoskeletal symptoms, Self-Reporting Questionnaire, effort perception, and Katz index.

Results:

a greater perception of effort raises up to 3.3 times the chances of presenting symptoms of pain in the spine region (p=0.01), and lower functional capacity of the elderly increases up to 1.3 times the chances of presenting pain symptoms in the spine region (p=0.02). The symptoms of emotional overload were associated with the caregiver’s low income (p=0.02).

Conclusions:

the perception of effort, dependence of the elderly, caregiver’s age, and symptoms of emotional overload are involved with caregivers’ symptoms of physical overload, and low income, with emotional overload.

Descriptors:
Caregivers; Elderly; Musculoskeletal Pain; Psychological Distress; Caregiver Burden