TABLE 3.

—Odds Ratios (ORs) for Association Between Time Commitment to Spousal Caregiving and Depressive or Anxious Symptoms: Analysis Among Women Who Reported No Depressive and Anxious Symptoms and No Spousal Caregiving in 1992

	Zero Weekly Hours of Caregiving in 1996	1–8 Weekly Hours of Caregiving in 1996	9–35 Weekly Hours of Caregiving in 1996	≥ 36 Weekly Hours of Caregiving in 1996	P for Trend
n	34 573	828	404	381
Age-adjusted OR	Reference	1.3 (0.9, 2.1)	1.8 (1.0, 3.1)	5.4 (3.7, 7.9)	< .001
Multivariate ORa	Reference	1.2 (0.7, 1.9)	1.5 (0.8, 2.9)	5.6 (3.8, 8.3)	< .001
Multivariate OR, controlling for stress and rewardb	Reference	1.1 (0.7, 1.8)	1.3 (0.7, 2.4)	3.8 (2.5, 5.8)	< .001
Adjusted mean change in 5-item Mental Health Inventory scorec	+2.5	+0.9*	−1.3*	−5.1*	< .001

^aControlling for age, cigarette smoking (1992 and 1996), level of social ties in 1992, other caregiving responsibilities in 1996, employment status in 1996, self-reported chronic illness (rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes), level of education, and baseline 5-item Mental Health Inventory score.

^bControlling for variables mentioned in footnote a as well as perceived stress and reward associated with caregiving.

^cControlling for age, cigarette smoking (1992 and 1996), level of social ties in 1992, other caregiving responsibilities in 1996, employment status in 1996, and baseline 5-item Mental Health Inventory score. Model is solved for women who were younger than 55, had never smoked, were not currently employed, had high levels of social ties in 1992, had no other care responsibilities in 1996, reported no chronic conditions, were registered nurses, and were assumed to have a baseline 5-item Mental Health Inventory score of 78.

*P < .001