Research projects

Dr Sally Price
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical and Clinical Neuropsychology)

 

 

Doctoral Thesis:Carers and psychosocial correlates across time : A longitudinal analysis
Supervisors: Dr Nancy Pachana
University: University of Queensland, Australia

It was the aim of this research project to investigate the health of Australian women aged 70 years and over who are caring for someone ill or disabled at home. This sample of women was drawn from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health (ALSWH) which is a large population-based mail-out survey examining aspects of health in these women.

Study one was cross-sectional in nature. Results of independent t-tests indicated that caregivers (N= 851) reported poorer mental health as compared to demographically similar non-caregivers (N = 9 583), and no differences between groups were found for self-reported physical health. There were few observed differences between these groups on measures of social support, stress and personality traits. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that health-related hardiness (HRH), physical activity, social support, neighbourhood satisfaction and income are important in fostering positive ratings of mental health. Higher stress and the occurrence of more than one major life event in recent years were not helpful for caregiver mental or physical health. HRH, physical activity and income were important in fostering positive outcomes for self-reported physical health. There was no support for any interactive or moderating relationships.


Study two aimed to investigate caregiver health over time where continuous non-caregivers were compared with caregiving groups via linear mixed models analyses. While the means for mental health for all caregiving trends fell within the average range for Australian norms, statistical analysis suggested a downward trend over time for caregiver mental health. There was a lack of definitive support for the adaptation hypothesis as it stands at present, and there was no support for improvement in mental health following cessation of the caregiving role. Caregiving was not associated with declines in self-reported physical health. However, age was associated with declines in this domain, where over time, all caregiving groups and the non-caregivers reported worse physical health.
Implications for future caregiving research and for social and health care policy are discussed.


 

Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations University of Queenlsand Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations

Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations


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Last updated: 31 January 2007 by Cath Chojenta © Copyright