Health‐related lifestyle of Spanish informal caregivers: Results from two national health surveys

Abstract

Objective We examine the health-related lifestyle behaviors of informal Spanish caregivers while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics.

Background Informal caregiving is an essential, albeit invisible, component of any health care delivery system that results in vast savings for national economies. Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether healthy lifestyle behaviors and the subsequent well-being of informal caregivers may compromise their ability to continue providing their essential service.

Method We compared the health-related lifestyle behaviors between informal caregivers and non-caregivers, applying generalized estimating equations analysis.

Results We observed no significant differences in self-rated health status between caregivers and non-caregivers. Women and men older than 44 years of age with less than 20 hours of care per week were more likely to eat fruit and engage in physical activity. Younger women caregivers (18–44 years) with less than 20 hours of care per week were also more physically active. However, younger men with less than 20 hours of care per week smoked more, and women were more likely to use alcohol. No differences were observed between non-caregivers and caregivers with 20 or more of care per week.

Conclusions Informal caregiving affects women and men equally, being hours of care per week a determinant of caregiver/non-caregiver differences on diet, physical activity, smoking, and drinking.

Implications The results from these nationally representative data suggest both a healthy and unhealthy lifestyle caregiver effect for both women and men. This effect differs on the different health-related behaviors and is related to the amount of time devoted to care.