Table 1.

Sociodemographic characteristics of the caregivers, variables pertaining the care-recipient and care situation and psychological variables of the caregivers (n = 491).

Variables	n	%
Sociodemographic characteristics of the caregiver
Caregivers’ mean age M (SD)	55.0 (10.7)
Caregiver’s gender
Man	54	11.0
Woman	437	89.0
Caregiver’s marital status
Single	116	23.6
With a partner	375	76.4
Education level
No studies/can read and write	125	25.5
Elementary	283	57.6
High school or above	83	16.9
Caregiver’s social class
Low/medium–low	255	51.9
Medium/medium–high	236	48.1
Employment status
Employed	82	16.7
Unemployed	409	83.3
Caregiver’s monthly family income
Up to €999	134	27.3
From €1,000 to €1,999	290	59.1
€2,000 and above	67	13.6
Care-related variables
Relationship
Spouse/partner	46	9.4
Son/daughter	86	17.5
Father/mother	217	44.2
Other relatives	142	28.9
Average age of the care-recipient, M (SD)	74.7 (23.1)
Gender of the care-recipient
Man	134	27.3
Woman	357	72.7
Disease of the care-recipient
Blindness	5	1.0
Stroke	44	9.0
Heart disease	14	2.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	3	0.6
Kidney disease	5	1.0
Arthritis	10	2.0
Physical disability	13	2.6
Cancer	6	1.2
Spina bifida	6	1.2
Down syndrome	32	6.5
Angelman syndrome	6	1.2
Cat’s cry syndrome	6	1.2
Schizophrenia	20	4.1
Bipolar disorder	3	0.6
Autism	7	1.4
Rett syndrome	3	0.6
West syndrome	5	1.0
Cerebral palsy	51	10.4
Multiple sclerosis	6	1.2
Parkinson’s	31	6.3
Epilepsy	12	2.4
Alzheimer’s	166	33.8
Vascular dementia	37	7.5
Barthel index, M (SD)	16.7 (21.7)
Duration of care, M (SD)	11.5 (9.2)
Daily hours of care, M (SD)	16.4 (3.6)
Psychological variables of the caregivers
Self-esteem, M (SD)	31.4 (4.2)
Social support, M (SD)	37.5 (10.8)