Can Cessation of Caregiving for Parents Relieve Family Caregivers' Psychological Distress? A Longitudinal Study Using 17-wave Nationwide Survey Data in Japan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Informal caregiving of older parents adversely affects the mental health of family caregivers. However, the psychological effects of caregiving cessation and the trajectories of these effects have rarely been examined in Japan. This study addresses this gap.

Methods

Based on a 17-wave nationwide population-based survey in Japan, we analyzed longitudinal data from 8,280 individuals aged 50-59 years in 2005 who started caring for their older parents in 2006 or later and ceased caregiving by 2021. We identified the timings of caregiving onset and cessation and examined the trajectory of psychological distress (PD), defined as a Kessler score ≥5 on the 6-item Kessler scale (range 0-24). Linear mixed models were used to assess the trajectory of PD that evolved after ca

SUBMITTER: Oshio T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11882349 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature