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