Psychological symptomatology in informal caregiver of rural and urban population

Abstract

The informal caregiving has recently become a greater importance through different reasons: sociodemographic changes, modification in the family structure, access of women to the labour market, geographical dispersion… Nevertheless, caregiving coverage in people with dementia and other diseases is mainly supported by informal and family caregiving. Psychological symptomatology caregivers suffer as a consequence of caregiving tasks are influenced by several variables. Thus, burden of caregivers, physical and psychological health might be determined by factors such as health status of patient, social support received, patient relative, caring time, place of residence, among other ones. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the place of residence and psychological symptomatology, health and burden of informal caregiver of patients with dementia. Caregivers lived in rural and urban zones of Extremadura were recruited in the study.Results showed there were not significant differences between both groups in variables related with caregiving: help support, level of dependence, caring time and perceived burden, levels of depression and in the SCL-90-R questionnaire subscales. In contrast, urban caregiver had higher levels of psychological symptomatology (GSI Index) than rural counterparts. Some variables correlated significantly with that index: health status of patient, depression level of caregiver and psychological symptomatology, being place of residence a variable that makes differences between both groups. Place of residence is a relevant factor that should be considered in designing of actions and helpful programs to informal caregivers, in order to improve their symptomatology and health related quality of life.

Keywords

• cuidador informal
• demencia
• rural-urbano
• sintomatología