Negative and positive health effects of casing for a disabled spouse: Longitudinal findings from the caregiver health effects study

Data from the first 2 waves of the Caregiver Health Effects Study (n = 680) were analyzed to examine the effects of changes in caregiving involvement on changes in caregiver health-related 'outcomes in a population-based samp le of elders caring for a disabled spouse. Caregiving involvement was index ed by levels of (a) spouse physical impairment, (b) help provided to the sp ouse, and (c) strain associated with providing help. Health-related outcome s included perceived health, health-risk behaviors, anxiety symptoms, and d epression symptoms. Increases in spouse impairment and caregiver strain wer e generally related to poorer outcomes over time (poorer perceived health, increased health-risk behaviors, and increased anxiety and depression), whe reas increased helping was related to better outcomes (decreased anxiety an d depression). Results suggest that caring for a disabled spouse is a compl ex phenomenon that can have both deleterious and beneficial consequences.