Mental and physical health of US rural/urban caregivers of persons with dementia.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Increased dependence on caregiving and limited access to healthcare services in rural US communities may contribute to worse mental and physical health in rural caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) relative to their urban counterparts. We assessed the association between rural/urban residence and mental and physical health among US caregivers of PWD.

Methods

Using 2020-2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, we identified caregivers of PWD from rural (n = 2311) and urban (n = 15094) areas. Mental health outcome was operationalized as poor mental health days (PMHD); categorized as 0, 1-13, and ≥14 PMHD in previous month. Poor physical health (PPHD) was operationalized in the same manner. Covariates included socio-demographic and caregiving factors.

SUBMITTER: Tran P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12316319 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature