The evaluation of perceived stress and associated factors in elderly caregivers.
OBJECTIVE Factors associated with perceived stress in older people have been studied previously, but this investigation in elderly caregivers is still scarce in the literature. Our aim was to assess factors that are associated with perceived stress in a sample of elderly caregivers. METHODS This cross sectional investigation assessed 341 elderly caregivers who cared for a dependent older person at home. They answered questionnaires including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS 14) a sociodemographic and care characterization, health and cognitive status, and burden related to care. RESULTS The mean score in PSS 14 was 18.5+ 9.9. Self reported pain, difficult to sleep, "very poor/poor" self rated health, impaired cognitive status, more people living in the house and higher levels of burden related to care were associated with higher levels of perceived stress. DISCUSSION The results highlight the importance of the development of stress reduced interventions directed to elderly caregivers focusing on the associated variables in this study. Attention should be given to cognitive decline prevention and strategies to avoid or reduce burden in the elderly caregivers.
Archives of gerontology and geriatrics