Disease-Related Factors Contributing to the Increase in the Frequency of Care Provided by Working Family Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES

To examine disease-related and contextual factors associated with caregiving frequency among employed family caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING AND

PARTICIPANTS

A nationwide web-based survey was conducted in Japan from April to May 2020 among 403 employed family caregivers.

METHODS

Caregiving frequency was assessed using a structured questionnaire. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between caregiving frequency and care recipients' disease conditions, living arrangements, and COVID-19-related factors, including time spent at home.

RESULTS

Among cohabiting caregivers, care recipients with visual or hearing impairments required significantly longer caregiving time compared with those with cerebrovascular disease (odds ratio [OR], 71.20; P = .006). Furthermore, it found that for every additional hour spent at home, the frequency of caregiving increased among both caregivers living with the care recipient (OR, 2.39; P < .001) and those living separately (OR, 1.35; P = .034). Dementia was not significantly associated with caregiving frequency.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Caregiving frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with living arrangements and specific care recipient conditions, particularly sensory impairments, respiratory disease, and fractures/falls. These findings suggest the need for targeted support strategies in clinical and community practice and for policy frameworks that address changes in caregiving demands during public health crises. Future research should examine longitudinal changes and evaluate interventions to mitigate caregiving burden in similar emergency contexts.