Abstract

SALCEDO GOMEZ, Mariana et al. Mental Health Risks of Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2022, vol.12, n.3, pp.18-31.  Epub June 26, 2023. ISSN 2007-4719.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2022.3.459.

Several studies have reported that informal care of older adults, chronically ill, and children’s, has an impact on physical and mental health of caregivers. The goal of this study was to identify mental health risks of caregivers, considering the concept of caregiver burden that points to the physical, emotional, social and/or economic demands of care activities, and the tension they produce. Participants answered a mental health screening (via an electronic platform) that intended to identify and attend mental health problems that could arise or be aggravated during the pandemic and confinement measures adopted to mitigate it. More than 51,000 people reported being caregivers of children, older people and/or chronically ill, which allows to identify variations in caregiver burden considering type and number of dependent people. The mental health conditions evaluated were acute stress, generalized anxiety, health anxiety, and depression. Results confirmed that caregivers who take care of more than one type of dependent are more likely to be at risk of developing any of the mental health conditions measured. Likewise, those who care for a chronically ill, were the most vulnerable and, to take care of children was at some extent a protective factor.

Keywords : Screening; Risk detection; Mental health risk; Caregivers; Burden of care.

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