Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Physical and mental health among caregivers: findings from a cross-sectional study of Open University students in Thailand

Authors: Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan, David Harley, Sam-ang Seubsman, Adrian C Sleigh

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Caregivers constitute an important informal workforce, often undervalued, facing challenges to maintain their caring role, health and wellbeing. Little is known about caregivers in middle-income countries like Thailand. This study investigates the physical and mental health of Thai adult caregivers.

Methods

This report derives from distance-learning students working and residing throughout Thailand and recruited for a health-risk transition study in 2005 (N=87,134) from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. The cohort follow-up questionnaire in 2009 (N = 60,569) includes questions on caregiver status which were not available in 2005; accordingly, this study is confined to analysis of the 2009 data. We report cross-sectional associations between caregiver status and health.

Results

Among the study participants in 2009, 27.5% reported being part-time caregivers and 6.6% reported being full-time caregivers. Compared to male non-caregivers, being a part-time or full-time male caregiver was associated with lower back pain (covariate-Adjusted Odds Ratios, AOR 1.36 and 1.67), with poor psychological health (AOR 1.16 and 1.68), but not with poor self-assessed health. Compared to female non-caregivers, being a part- or full-time female caregiver was associated with lower back pain (AOR 1.47 and 1.84), psychological distress (AOR 1.32 and 1.52), and poor self-assessed health (AOR 1.21 and 1.34).

Conclusions

Adult caregivers in Thailand experienced a consistent adverse physical and mental health burden. A dose–response effect was evident, with odds ratios higher for full-time caregivers than for part-time, and non-caregivers. Our findings should raise awareness of caregivers, their unmet needs, and support required in Thailand and other similar middle-income countries.
Literature
1.
Howe AL, Schofield H, Herrman H: Caregiving: a common or uncommon experience?. Soc Sci Med. 1997, 45 (7): 1017-1029. 10.1016/S0277-9536(97)00017-8.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Bookman A, Harrington M: Family caregivers: a shadow workforce in the geriatric health care system?. J Health Polit Policy Law. 2007, 32 (6): 1005-1041. 10.1215/03616878-2007-040.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Donelan K, Hill CA, Hoffman C, Scoles K, Feldman PH, Levine C, Gould D: Challenged to care: informal caregivers in a changing health system. Health Aff (Millwood). 2002, 21 (4): 222-231. 10.1377/hlthaff.21.4.222.CrossRef
4.
Tooth L, Russell A, Lucke J, Byrne G, Lee C, Wilson A, Dobson A: Impact of cognitive and physical impairment on carer burden and quality of life. Qual Life Res. 2008, 17 (2): 267-273. 10.1007/s11136-007-9300-7.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Roth DL, Perkins M, Wadley VG, Temple EM, Haley WE: Family caregiving and emotional strain: associations with quality of life in a large national sample of middle-aged and older adults. Qual Life Res. 2009, 18 (6): 679-688. 10.1007/s11136-009-9482-2.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
6.
Rospenda KM, Minich LM, Milner LA, Richman JA: Caregiver burden and alcohol use in a community sample. J Addict Dis. 2010, 29 (3): 314-324. 10.1080/10550887.2010.489450.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
7.
Pinquart M, Sorensen S: Correlates of physical health of informal caregivers: a meta-analysis. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2007, 62 (2): P126-P137. 10.1093/geronb/62.2.P126.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Tommis Y, Robinson CA, Seddon D, Woods B, Perry J, Russell IT: Carers with chronic conditions: changes over time in their physical health. Chronic Illn. 2009, 5 (3): 155-164. 10.1177/1742395309339251.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Yalcinkaya EY, Ones K, Ayna AB, Turkyilmaz AK, Erden N: Low back pain prevalence and characteristics in caregivers of stroke patients: a pilot study. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2010, 17 (5): 389-393. 10.1310/tsr1705-389.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Tong HC, Haig AJ, Nelson VS, Yamakawa KS, Kandala G, Shin KY: Low back pain in adult female caregivers of children with physical disabilities. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003, 157 (11): 1128-1133. 10.1001/archpedi.157.11.1128.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Nishi A, Tamiya N, Kashiwagi M, Takahashi H, Sato M, Kawachi I: Mothers and daughters-in-law: a prospective study of informal care-giving arrangements and survival in Japan. BMC Geriatr. 2010, 10: 61-10.1186/1471-2318-10-61.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Okabayashi H, Sugisawa H, Takanashi K, Nakatani Y, Sugihara Y, Hougham GW: A longitudinal study of coping and burnout among Japanese family caregivers of frail elders. Aging Ment Health. 2008, 12 (4): 434-443. 10.1080/13607860802224318.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
13.
Hori Y, Hoshino J, Suzuki K: Physical and psychological health problems among Japanese family caregivers. Nagoya J Med Sci. 2011, 73 (3–4): 107-115.PubMedPubMedCentral
14.
Ho SC, Chan A, Woo J, Chong P, Sham A: Impact of caregiving on health and quality of life: a comparative population-based study of caregivers for elderly persons and noncaregivers. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009, 64 (8): 873-879.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Kim SW, Kim JM, Stewart R, Bae KL, Yang SJ, Shin IS, Shin HY, Yoon JS: Correlates of caregiver burden for Korean elders according to cognitive and functional status. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006, 21 (9): 853-861. 10.1002/gps.1571.CrossRefPubMed
16.
NSO: Survey of Disability in Thailand. 2007, Bangkok: National Statistical Office
17.
Wanaratwichit C, Sirasoonthorn P, Pannarunothai S, Noosorn N: Access to services and complications experienced by disabled people in Thailand. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2008, 20 (Suppl): 251-256.PubMed
18.
United Nations: World Population Prospects, the 2008 Revision. 2008, Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat: Retrieved from http://​esa.​un.​org/​unpp on March 20, 2011
19.
Jitapunkul S, Wivatvani S: National policies and programs for the ageing population in Thailand. Ageing Int. 2009, 33: 62-74.CrossRef
20.
NSO: Survey of Older Persons in Thailand. 2007, Bangkok: National Statistical Office
21.
Sleigh AC, Seubsman SA, Bain C: Cohort profile: the Thai Cohort of 87,134 Open University students. Int J Epidemiol. 2008, 37 (2): 266-272. 10.1093/ije/dym161.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Seubsman SA, Kelly M, Sleigh A, Peungson J, Chokkanapitak J, Vilainerun D: Methods used for successful follow-up in a large scale national cohort study in Thailand. BMC Res Notes. 2011, 4 (1): 166-10.1186/1756-0500-4-166.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
23.
Kuriyama S, Nakaya N, Ohmori-Matsuda K, Shimazu T, Kikuchi N, Kakizaki M, Sone T, Sato F, Nagai M, Sugawara Y, et al: Factors associated with psychological distress in a community-dwelling Japanese population: the Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study. J Epidemiol. 2009, 19 (6): 294-302. 10.2188/jea.JE20080076.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
24.
Kessler RC, Barker PR, Colpe LJ, Epstein JF, Gfroerer JC, Hiripi E, Howes MJ, Normand SL, Manderscheid RW, Walters EE, et al: Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003, 60 (2): 184-189. 10.1001/archpsyc.60.2.184.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Dionne CE, Dunn KM, Croft PR, Nachemson AL, Buchbinder R, Walker BF, Wyatt M, Cassidy JD, Rossignol M, Leboeuf-Yde C, et al: A consensus approach toward the standardization of back pain definitions for use in prevalence studies. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008, 33 (1): 95-103. 10.1097/BRS.0b013e31815e7f94.CrossRef
26.
Kanazawa M, Yoshiike N, Osaka T, Numba Y, Zimmet P, Inoue S: Criteria and classification of obesity in Japan and Asia-Oceania. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2002, 11 (Suppl 8): S732-S737.CrossRef
27.
Ussher JM, Perz J: Gender differences in self-silencing and psychological distress in informal cancer carers. Psychol Women Quart. 2010, 34 (2): 228-242. 10.1111/j.1471-6402.2010.01564.x.CrossRef
28.
Godfrey JR, Warshaw GA: Toward optimal health: considering the enhanced healthcare needs of women caregivers. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2009, 18 (11): 1739-1742. 10.1089/jwh.2009.1720.CrossRef
29.
Pachanee CA, Lim L, Bain C, Wibulpolprasert S, Seubsman SA, Sleigh AC: Smoking behavior among 84,315 Open University students in Thailand. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2011, 23 (4): 544-554. 10.1177/1010539509349148.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Seubsman SA, Kelly MJ, Yiengprugsawan V, Sleigh AC: Gender, socioeconomic status, and self-rated health in a transitional middle-income setting: evidence from Thailand. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2010, 23 (5): 754-765.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
31.
Yiengprugsawan V, Khamman S, Seubsman SA, Lim LL, Sleigh AC: Social capital and health in a national cohort of 82,482 Open University adults in Thailand. J Health Psychol. 2011, 16 (4): 632-642. 10.1177/1359105310386264.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
32.
Tawatsupa B, Lim LL-Y, Kjellstrom T, Seubsman S, Sleigh A, The Thai Cohort Study Team: The association between overall health, psychological distress, and occupational heat stress among a large national cohort of 40,913 Thai workers. Global Health Action. 2010, 10.3402/gha.v3i0.5034.
33.
Son J, Erno A, Shea DG, Femia EE, Zarit SH, Stephens MA: The caregiver stress process and health outcomes. J Aging Health. 2007, 19 (6): 871-887. 10.1177/0898264307308568.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Barrow S, Harrison RA: Unsung heroes who put their lives at risk? Informal caring, health and neighbourhood attachment. J Public Health. 2005, 27 (3): 292-297. 10.1093/pubmed/fdi038.CrossRef
35.
Macneil G, Kosberg JI, Durkin DW, Dooley WK, Decoster J, Williamson GM: Caregiver mental health and potentially harmful caregiving behavior: the central role of caregiver anger. Gerontologist. 2010, 50 (1): 76-86. 10.1093/geront/gnp099.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Elliott TR, Shewchuk RM, Richards JS: Family caregiver social problem-solving abilities and adjustment during the initial year of the caregiving role. J Couns Psychol. 2001, 48 (2): 223-232.CrossRef
37.
Hirst M: Carer distress: a prospective, population-based study. Soc Sci Med. 2005, 61 (3): 697-708. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.01.001.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Gusi N, Prieto J, Madruga M, Garcia JM, Gonzalez-Guerrero JL: Health-related quality of life and fitness of the caregiver of patient with dementia. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009, 41 (6): 1182-1187. 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181951314.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Morris SM, Thomas C: The need to know: informal carers and information. Eur J Cancer Care. 2002, 11 (3): 183-187. 10.1046/j.1365-2354.2002.00337.x.CrossRef
40.
Washington KT, Meadows SE, Elliott SG, Koopman RJ: Information needs of informal caregivers of older adults with chronic health conditions. Patient Educ Couns. 2011, 83 (1): 37-44. 10.1016/j.pec.2010.04.017.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Palmer M, Harley D: Models and measurement in disability: an international review. Health Policy Plan. 2011, 27 (5): 357-364.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Rosenberg E, Jullamate P, Azeredo Z: Informal caregiving: cross-cultural applicability of the person-environment model. Health Sociol Rev. 2009, 18 (4): 399-411. 10.5172/hesr.2009.18.4.399.CrossRef
43.
Suttajit S, Punpuing S, Jirapramukpitak T, Tangchonlatip K, Darawuttimaprakorn N, Stewart R, Dewey ME, Prince M, Abas MA: Impairment, disability, social support and depression among older parents in rural Thailand. Psychol Med. 2010, 40 (10): 1711-1721. 10.1017/S003329170999208X.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
44.
Thanakwang K: Social relationships influencing positive perceived health among Thai older persons: a secondary data analysis using the National Elderly Survey. Nurs Health Sci. 2009, 11 (2): 144-149. 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2009.00438.x.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Kong EH: The influence of culture on the experiences of Korean, Korean American, and Caucasian-American family caregivers of frail older adults: a literature review. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2007, 37 (2): 213-220.PubMed
46.
Yiengprugsawan V, Seubsman S, Sleigh AC: Health, well-being, and social indicators among monks, prisoners, and other adult members of an open university cohort in Thailand. J Relig Health. 2012, 51 (3): 925-933. 10.1007/s10943-010-9410-3.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Lyonette C, Yardley L: Predicting mental health outcomes in female working carers: a longitudinal analysis. Aging Ment Health. 2006, 10 (4): 368-377. 10.1080/13607860600638313.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Physical and mental health among caregivers: findings from a cross-sectional study of Open University students in Thailand
Authors
Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan
David Harley
Sam-ang Seubsman
Adrian C Sleigh
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-1111

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

BMC Public Health 1/2012 Go to the issue

Research article

Determinants of insecticide-treated net ownership and utilization among pregnant women in Nigeria

Research article

Comparing risk factors of HIV among hijra sex workers in Larkana and other cities of Pakistan: an analytical cross sectional study

Research article

Migrant health in French Guiana: Are undocumented immigrants more vulnerable?

Research article

Exploring the relationships between housing, neighbourhoods and mental wellbeing for residents of deprived areas

Research article

Several steps/day indicators predict changes in anthropometric outcomes: HUB City Steps

Correspondence

A public health approach to eating disorders prevention: It’s time for public health professionals to take a seat at the table