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Gender Differences in Psychiatric Morbidity Among Family Caregivers

A Review and Analysis

^a Center for Mental Health Services Research, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
^b Department of Psychiatry and University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, PA

Correspondence: Jennifer L. Yee, PhD, Center for Mental Health Services Research, School of Social Work, 2217A Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.

Decision Editor: Vernon L. Greene, PhD

The major goal of this article was to review and synthesize the empirical research on caregiver gender and psychiatric morbidity, with the aim of answering three questions: (a) Is there greater psychiatric morbidity among female than male caregivers, (b) is the excess psychiatric morbidity among female caregivers attributable to caregiving, and (c) what factors in the caregiving situation contribute to the excess psychiatric morbidity among female caregivers? In almost all studies reviewed, women caregivers reported more psychiatric symptoms than men caregivers. Comparisons with noncaregiving community samples suggest that female caregivers experience excess psychiatric morbidity attributable to caregiving. Using a stress process model as an organizing framework, the study demonstrated that at all stages of the stress process, women are at greater risk for psychiatric morbidity than men. Directions for future research and implications for interventions and public policy are discussed.

Key Words: Gender • Caregiving • Psychiatric morbidity • Depression • Stress • Caregiving activities

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