The emotional cost of containment: a cross-sectional analysis of treatment effects among informal carers in South Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic led to government-imposed mobility restrictions, social distancing, and lockdowns, altering the caregiving environment worldwide. In South Asia, it is unknown what aspects of these changes posed significant emotional costs to informal carers, or how such costs can be mitigated in future pandemics.

OBJECTIVES

To identify environmental change aspects (dimensions) that posed distinct emotional costs for South Asian carers. To quantify the costs and classify them as persistent, transient, hidden, or insignificant. To propose ways of mitigating carer distress during future pandemics.

METHODS

The data came from the Coping with Loneliness, Isolation, and COVID-19 Caregiver survey. Carers (n=454) in Bangladesh (N=123), India (N=116), and Pakistan (N=215) self-reported their experiences before/during the pandemic. The dimensions were extracted from 11 change indicators. A dimension's emotional costs were its effects on (1) the change in burden frequency relative to pre-pandemic conditions and (2) the during-pandemic burden frequency.

RESULTS

Five factors emerged: social confinement, reduced/missing information on the recipient, loss of connection, restricted visitation rights, and protective clothing. Social confinement (loss of connection) increased both changes in burden frequency and during-pandemic burden frequency, indicating a persistent emotional cost to carers. Restricted visitation rights affected only pandemic burden frequency, indicating a hidden emotional impact.

CONCLUSIONS

Social confinement (loss of connection, restricted visitation rights) was emotionally costly because it forced an increase (decrease) in care intensity relative to pre-pandemic levels. Through enhanced counseling and emotional support services, South Asian public health systems can alleviate carers' private suffering during normal times and future crises.