Is caregiver burden associated with sex and gender-related characteristics? A large-scale survey study among family caregivers of people with dementia.

Abstract

Background: The association between the sex of family caregivers and their perceived care burden has been examined thoroughly. The role of sex- and gender-related characteristics of these caregivers in this association remains unknown. We therefore explored the extent to which various gender-related characteristics of caregivers and the sex of people with dementia explain or affect the association between sex of caregivers and their perceived care burden.

Methods: Data were derived from a large-scale survey among Dutch family caregivers of people with dementia in 2022 (N = 3067). Both linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess mediation of gender-related caregiver characteristics in the association between the sex of the caregiver and the perceived care burden. These characteristics included: hours per week spent on caregiving, being the primary caregiver, relationship with the person with dementia and perceived difficulty in combining daily activities with caregiving. Linear regression analyses were used to assess moderation of the sex of the person with dementia in the association between the sex of the caregiver and the perceived care burden.

Results: Female caregivers perceived a greater care burden than male caregivers. This association was partly explained by female caregivers more often perceiving difficulty of combining daily activities with caregiving than male caregivers. Male caregivers perceived a slightly greater care burden when caring for a female than when caring for a male. The perceived care burden of female caregivers was not related to the sex of the person with dementia.

Discussion: This study highlights how gender-related aspects of family caregiving can contribute to sex differences in perceived care burden. The findings imply that it is important to take gender-related aspects of caregiving into account when developing or offering caregiver support, as support needs differ between male and female caregivers.