The paradox of informal caregiving: benefits and harms to mental health in the context of sense of divine control.

OBJECTIVES

This research examines whether a sense of divine control modifies nonlinear associations between frequency of caregiving for individuals with a chronic health condition or a limitation and two aspects of psychological distress (depression and anxiety symptomology).

METHODS

Data were derived from the Caregiving, Aging, and Financial Experiences Study, a national longitudinal study of Canadians aged 65-85 (x̄ = 71.8) collected in 2021 and 2022 (N = 2,420). Within-between models tested nonlinear associations between caregiving and the distress outcomes, examining two types of associations: (a) associations based on time-stable differences between people and (b) associations based on factors that vary within individuals over time. Moderation of these associations by time-stable sense of divine control (due to its high stability) was subsequently tested.

RESULTS

At the between- and within-person levels, frequency of caregiving was nonlinearly associated with both outcomes, with benefits of caregiving at lower frequencies of care and detriments at higher frequencies. This pattern was more pronounced for within-person caregiving. For several associations, the salubrious aspects were strengthened and the deleterious aspects weakened by a sense of divine control, thereby indicating stress buffering.

DISCUSSION: Reaching the end of life may place a burden on caregivers, but caregiving can have benefits for mental health at a lower frequency of care, leading to nonlinear associations between frequency of caregiving and psychological distress. A failure to consider nonlinearity may conceal these benefits. Beliefs in a supportive relationship with a higher power through a sense of divine control bolster the benefits and weaken the mental health detriments of caregiving.