Abstract
Background
Unique experiences, for example, trauma, of women veteran caregivers may create differences
in the caregiving experience and may be associated with health concerns. We examined
caregiving factors and health concerns in women veteran caregivers compared to non-veteran
women (civilian) caregivers, and identified variables associated with being a woman
veteran caregiver.
Methods
We conducted secondary data analyses using data from a multistate survey to examine
sociodemographics, the caregiver experience (relationship to recipient, duration as
caregiver, hours of care provided, area help is needed, and greatest difficulty faced
as a caregiver); emotional support; life satisfaction; lifestyle behaviors; general,
physical, and mental health; and chronic conditions in women informal caregivers.
Findings
Of women caregivers, more veteran caregivers provided activities of daily living (ADL)
help (33%) than non-veteran caregivers (21%; p = .02). There were no differences in years as a caregiver, hours of care provided,
or the relationship to the recipient. Poor sleep and poor mental health were experienced
by more women veteran caregivers (vs. non-veteran), but physical health, general health,
and chronic condition prevalence did not differ. Women veteran caregivers had twofold
greater odds of being Black, never married, college educated, and providing ADL assistance.
Odds of obesity were lower for women veteran caregivers relative to other women caregivers.
Conclusions
Women veteran caregivers experience health concerns, including sleeplessness, poor
mental health, and some chronic conditions. Our cohort were young women, yet had concerns
that may be exacerbated by being a veteran and assuming a caregiver role. Comprehensive
services to support their needs as veteran patients and as caregivers are needed.
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Women's Health IssuesAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- The prevalence of overweight and obesity among U.S. military veterans.Military Medicine. 2008; 73: 544-549
- Health effects of military service on women Veterans. VA evidence-based synthesis program reports.U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC2011
- Systematic review of women Veteran’s health: Update on successes and gaps.Women’s Health Issues. 2011; 21: S84-S97
- Impact of mental health and caregiver burden on family caregivers' physical health.Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 2010; 50: 267-271
- Caregiving: Challenges and implications for women’s health.Women’s Health Issues. 2011; 11: 185-200
- Gender differences in smoking and smoking cessation treatment: An examination of the organizational features related to care.Women’s Health Issues. 2011; 21: S182-S189
- A systematic review of prevalence studies on multimorbidity: Toward a more uniform methodology.Annals of Family Medicine. 2012; 10: 142-151
- Family caregivers online.Pew Research Center, Washington, DC2012
- The burden of illness in the first year home: Do male and female VA users differ in health conditions and healthcare utilization.Women's Health Issues. 2011; 21: 92-97
- Psychological health in older adult spousal caregivers of older adults.Chronic Illness. 2010; 6: 67-80
- Impact of a multi-component support services program on informal caregivers of adults aging with disabilities.Journal of Gerontological Social Work. 2012; 55: 160-174
- VA health care utilization and costs among male and female veterans in the year after service in Afghanistan and Iraq.Military Medicine. 2011; 176: 265-269
- Health indicators for military, veteran, and civilian women.American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2012; 42: 473-480
- Evolving comprehensive VA women’s health care: Patient characteristics, needs, and preferences.Women’s Health Issues. 2011; 21: S120-S129
- Caregiving in the US 2009 Executive Summary.Mathew Greenwald and Associates, Washington, DC2009
- Caregivers of veterans: Serving on the homefront. Report of study findings.United Health Foundation, Bethesda, MD2010
- In U.S., 24% of men, 2% of women are veterans: Among men, veteran status is highly related to age.Gallup, Washington, DC2012 (Retrieved from:)
- AMSARA: Accession medical standards analysis & research activity: Annual report 2008.Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD2009
- Home alone: Family caregivers providing complex chronic care.AARP Public Policy Institute, Washington, DC2012 (Retrieved from:)
- Sleep patterns before, during, and after deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.Sleep. 2010; 33: 1615-1622
- Depressive disorders among cohorts of women veterans with diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.Journal of Women’s Health. 2010; 19: 1475-1486
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009-2010). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, Survey Data. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Technical documents and survey data: BRFSS weighting formula.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta2008
- National Center for Veterans analysis and statistics. America’s Women Veterans: Military Service History and VA Benefit Utilization Statistics.National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC2011
- Multimorbidity in general practice: Prevalence, incidence, and determinants of co-occurring chronic and recurrent diseases.Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 1998; 51: 367-375
- Increased Framingham Coronary Heart Disease Risk Score in dementia caregivers relative to non-caregiving controls.Gerontology. 2008; 54: 131-137
- Access to care for women veterans: Delayed healthcare and unmet need.Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2011; 26: 655-661
- Relationship between body mass index and perceived insufficient sleep among U.S. adults: An analysis of 2008 BRFSS data.BMC Public Health. 2011; 11: 295
- Sourcebook: Women Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Volume 1. Sociodemographic characteristics and use of VHA care.U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC2010
- Facts and statistics about women Veterans: Women Veterans Health Care.U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC2012 (Retrieved from)
Biography
Sherri L. LaVela, PhD, MPH, MBA, is a Research Health Scientist at the Hines VA Hospital and Research Assistant Professor in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago. Her research interests include access to and equitable delivery of patient-centered care and patient-reported outcomes in vulnerable populations.
Biography
Bella Etingen, MA, is a Health Science Specialist at the Hines VA Hospital, with an interest in health outcomes for individuals who have experienced trauma.
Biography
Theresa Louise-Bender Pape, DrPH, MA, CCC-SLP/L, is a Research Health Scientist at the Hines VA Hospital and is a site lead for the VA Women’s Health Research Network; she holds an academic appointment in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago. Her research interests include traumatic brain injury, chronic conditions, and women’s health.
Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
April 4,
2013
Received in revised form:
April 3,
2013
Received:
September 24,
2012
Footnotes
Supported by the Veterans Health Administration Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D) . None of the authors have a financial or other relationship that might signify a conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
