Family caregiving is a critical component of informal health support, yet its demographic and functional profile remains underexplored. This study examines the characteristics and roles of adult caregivers, and investigates the practical and psychosocial implications of family caregiving. Data were drawn from 21,137 individuals who provided regular care or assistance to parents or parents-in-law (35%), spouses or partners (18%), and friends or non-relatives (13.5%). Caregivers vary in gender (60% were females) and in age, spanning from young adulthood (ages 18 to 24; 3.7%), early and middle adulthood (ages 25 to 64; 54.8%) and late adulthood (ages 65 and older; 40.1%). The majority of care recipients had chronic conditions, with old age or frailty (11.7%) and Alzheimer’s disease or dementia (11.8%) being the most reported health problems. Caregiving tasks varied in intensity: 41.2% managed personal care such as bathing or feeding, while 80.8% assisted with household tasks, such as transportation and financial management. A series of structural equation models were estimated to predict caregiving burden. In general, greater hours and complexity of care (e.g., helping with transportation vs. helping with routine personal care) were associated with poorer caregivers’ mental health. Role overload, sleep disruption, and social isolation mediated the link between care intensity and depressive symptoms, whereas perceived competence, positive appraisal, and access to respite were associated with better self-reported mental health. Taken together, the findings underscore the need to recognize family caregivers as essential partners in care. Implications for clinical practice and policy will be discussed.

Authors:
Florensia F. Surjadi, Northern Illinois University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Florensia Surjadi is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences at Northern Illinois University.

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