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01-02-2013 | Original Paper

Psychosocial and Cognitive Health Differences by Caregiver Status Among Older Mexican Americans

Authors: Angelica P. Herrera, Carolyn A. Mendez-Luck, Janice D. Crist, Matthew Lee Smith, Ruth Warre, Marcia G. Ory, Kyriakos Markides

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 1/2013

Abstract

This study identifies the risk and protective factors associated with informal caregiving by older (≥70 years) Mexican Americans and profiles caregiving arrangements. Overall, a greater number of informal caregivers (n = 92) were married and female. They also had higher physical functioning and better cognition than non-caregivers (n = 1,888) but fewer visited a physician regularly. Informal caregivers also showed an increased risk of depressive symptoms. A third of caregivers spent more than 20 h/day caregiving and the majority (84%) of care recipients were family members. In order to support the efforts of this disproportionately burdened caregiver group, increased social support and healthcare services are needed.

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Title: Psychosocial and Cognitive Health Differences by Caregiver Status Among Older Mexican Americans
Authors: Angelica P. Herrera
Carolyn A. Mendez-Luck
Janice D. Crist
Matthew Lee Smith
Ruth Warre
Marcia G. Ory
Kyriakos Markides
Publication date: 01-02-2013
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9494-1

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Psychosocial and Cognitive Health Differences by Caregiver Status Among Older Mexican Americans

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