Caregiving and allostatic load predict future illness and disability: A population-based study.

Gallagher, Stephen; Kate M, Bennett

dc.contributor.author	Gallagher, Stephen
dc.contributor.author	Kate M, Bennett
dc.date.accessioned	2024-10-03T15:37:34Z
dc.date.available	2024-10-03T15:37:34Z
dc.date.issued	2021-07-07
dc.identifier.pmid	34589788
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100295
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10147/643018
dc.description	Background: Caring for sick or disabled relatives is a key model for understanding the effects of chronic stress on immunity/inflammation; biomarkers which are part of an index of allostatic load. Here, we examine whether caring and allostatic load are predictive of future illness/disability and if the association between caring and illness/disability is mediated by allostatic load. Method: Using data from the Understanding Society Wave 2 (2011) and Wave 9 (2017-2019) datasets in the UK, a sample of 471 of caregivers and 2,151 non-caregivers (all initially healthy) were compared on allostatic load and future illness/disability. Results: Caregivers had higher allostatic risk scores, for total as well as immune and non-immune biomarkers, and were more likely (23.3% vs 17.4%) to have an illness/disability in the future compared to non-caregivers. Moreover, caregiving was responsible for a 33% future illness/disability risk. Further, allostatic load was also predictive of excess risk (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.08 - 1.26; p < .001); higher allostatic load was associated with increased risk of illness/disability in the future. In an unadjusted mediation model, allostatic load mediated the association between caregiving and future illness/disability. However, after controlling for confounding, the mediation became non-significant. Conclusions: These results confirm that caregiving and allostatic load are damaging for future health. Results are also discussed in relation to public health aspects of caregiving.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.rights	© 2021 The Authors.
dc.rights	Attribution 4.0 International	*
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/	*
dc.subject	Allostatic load	en_US
dc.subject	Caregiving	en_US
dc.subject	DISABILITY	en_US
dc.subject	health	en_US
dc.subject	inflammation	en_US
dc.title	Caregiving and allostatic load predict future illness and disability: A population-based study.	en_US
dc.type	Article	en_US
dc.identifier.eissn	2666-3546
dc.identifier.journal	Brain, behavior, & immunity - health	en_US
dc.source.journaltitle	Brain, behavior, & immunity - health
dc.source.volume	16
dc.source.beginpage	100295
dc.source.endpage
refterms.dateFOA	2024-10-03T15:37:36Z
dc.source.country	United States