Spouses, adult children, and children-in-law as caregivers of older adults: a meta-analytic comparison

Psychol Aging. 2011 Mar;26(1):1-14. doi: 10.1037/a0021863.

Abstract

The present meta-analysis integrates the results from 168 empirical studies on differences between caregiving spouses, adult children, and children-in-law. Spouses differ from children and children-in-law significantly with regard to sociodemographic variables; also, they provide more support but report fewer care recipient behavior problems. Spouse caregivers report more depression symptoms, greater financial and physical burden, and lower levels of psychological well-being. Higher levels of psychological distress among spouses are explained mostly--but not completely--by higher levels of care provision. Few differences emerge between children and children-in-law, but children-in-law perceive the relationship with the care recipient as less positive and they report fewer uplifts of caregiving.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Caregivers* / psychology
  • Cost of Illness
  • Depression / etiology
  • Depression / psychology
  • Family Relations
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spouses / psychology*
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology