Loneliness Among Long-Term Spousal Caregivers: A Gender-Based Analysis Using the CLSA
2024
Loneliness Among Long-Term Spousal Caregivers: A Gender-Based Analysis
Sample size: 1569
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Li Lun, Wister Andrew, Lee Yeonjung
Primary Institution: MacEwan University
Hypothesis
Female spousal caregivers experience higher levels of loneliness than male spousal caregivers over time.
Conclusion
Female spousal caregivers report greater loneliness and a steeper increase in caregiver burden compared to their male counterparts.
Supporting Evidence
- Female spousal caregivers reported higher levels of loneliness at the beginning of the study.
- Female spousal caregivers experienced a greater increase in loneliness over time compared to male caregivers.
- Caregiving hours, social participation, and social support are key predictors of loneliness.
Takeaway
This study found that women who take care of their spouses feel lonelier than men who do the same job, and this loneliness gets worse over time.
Methodology
The study used longitudinal analyses with data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the UCLA 3-item loneliness scale.
Participant Demographics
849 male and 720 female long-term spousal caregivers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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