Table 2.
Caregiver demographics and clinical characteristics†
| N=414 | |
|---|---|
| Variables | N (%) |
| Age (Mean(SD)) | 66.5 (12.5) |
| <70 | 210 (51.1%) |
| 70–79 | 151 (36.7%) |
| ≥80 | 50 (12.2%) |
| Gender | |
| Female | 310 (75.4%) |
| Male | 101 (24.6%) |
| Education | |
| <High school | 30 (7.3%) |
| High school graduate | 118 (28.7%) |
| Some college or above | 263 (64.0%) |
| Race | |
| Non-Hispanic white | 369 (89.8%) |
| African American | 27 (6.6%) |
| Other | 15 (3.6%) |
| Relationship | |
| Spouse/cohabiting partner | 276 (67.2%) |
| Son/daughter | 94 (22.9%) |
| Other | 41 (10.0%) |
| Income, annual | |
| <$50,000 | 151 (36.8%) |
| >$50,000 | 259 (63.2%) |
| Living arrangements | |
| Independent living (more than 1 story) | 188 (45.9%) |
| Independent living (1 story) | 215 (52.4%) |
| Other | 7 (1.7%) |
| Comorbidity* | |
| Yes | 162 (39.4%) |
| No | 249 (60.6%) |
| Anxiety (GAD-7) (≥5) | |
| Yes | 97 (24.4%) |
| No | 300 (75.6%) |
| Distress (≥4) | |
| Yes | 177 (43.5%) |
| No | 230 (56.5%) |
| Depression (PHQ-2) (≥2) | |
| Yes | 75 (18.9%) |
| No | 322 (81.1%) |
Abbreviations: GAD-7, generalized anxiety disorder 7-item scale; PHQ, patient health questionnaire
†
Missing data ≤3% for any variable; percentages are calculated from available data.
*
Defined using the Older American Resources and Services Comorbidity Form which assesses the presence of 13 illnesses, and how much each problem interferes with his/her function; caregiver was noted to have the domain impaired if s/he answered “yes” to 3 illnesses or answered that 1 illness interferes “a great deal”