TABLE 3.
Caregiver Health and Social Support Outcomes and Statistical Comparison of the 2 Subgroups: National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, Canada, 1994–1995
| Total Sample (N = 9401), % or Mean (SE) | Healthy Children (n = 3633), % or Mean (SE) | Children With Health Problems (n = 2495), % or Mean (SE) | Healthy Children Versus Children With Health Problems |
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| Caregiver Outcome | Comparison Test | P | |||
| At least 1 chronic condition | 44.28 | 34.45 | 56.62 | χ21 = 110.82 | <.001 |
| Number of chronic conditionsa | 1.80 (0.03) | 1.65 (0.05) | 2.02 (0.05) | t = 5.41 | <.001 |
| Limitation in at least 1 domain of activity | 10.58 | 7.29 | 16.32 | χ21 = 50.74 | <.001 |
| General health status excellent or very goodb | 73.31 | 77.50 | 67.76 | χ21 = 26.36 | <.001 |
| Depression scalec | |||||
| Mean score | 4.86 (0.10) | 4.23 (0.16) | 5.88 (0.22) | t = 6.25 | <.001 |
| Minimal score (0–11) | 89.03 | 90.94 | 85.70 | χ21 = 15.03 | <.001 |
| Somewhat elevated score (12–20) | 8.17 | 7.03 | 9.70 | χ21 = 5.89 | .02 |
| Very elevated score (21–36) | 2.80 | 2.03 | 4.60 | χ21 = 8.54 | .004 |
| Social support total scored | 14.46 (0.05) | 14.46 (0.08) | 14.47 (0.11) | t = 0.02 | .98 |
| Family functioning total scoree | 8.06 (0.10) | 7.99 (0.14) | 8.25 (0.17) | t = 1.20 | .23 |
| Marital satisfactionf | 9.38 (0.04) | 9.38 (0.06) | 9.35 (0.08) | t = 0.31 | .76 |
a
Among those with at least 1 chronic condition.
b
Reference group is good/fair/poor general health.
c
Range = 0–36; higher score indicates more symptoms of depression.
d
Range = 0–18; higher score indicates better social support.
e
Range = 0–36; higher score indicates greater family dysfunction.
f
Range = 1–11; higher score indicates greater marital satisfaction; only asked of caregivers in a marriage relationship, including common law.