PERCEIVED BURDEN ON OTHERS, LONELINESS, AND SUICIDE RISK IN CAREGIVERS
2024
Caregiving, Loneliness, and Suicide Risk
Sample size: 106
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Van Orden Kimberly
Primary Institution: University of Rochester Medical Center
Hypothesis
Caregiving impacts suicide risk in dementia caregivers through feelings of loneliness and perceived burden.
Conclusion
Perceived burden on others is as common as suicide ideation among caregivers, indicating its relevance in understanding suicide risk.
Supporting Evidence
- 10% of caregivers reported suicide ideation in the past month.
- 14% of caregivers felt like a burden on others in the past month.
- Caregivers who felt a perceived burden were 3.5 times more likely to report suicide ideation.
Takeaway
Taking care of someone can make you feel lonely and like a burden, which can lead to thinking about suicide.
Methodology
Caregivers completed interviews and self-report measures regarding their feelings of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and caregiving burden.
Participant Demographics
Caregivers of individuals with dementia.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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