Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6186-670X

Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Julie Hicks Patrick

Committee Co-Chair

JoNell Strough

Committee Member

JoNell Strough

Committee Member

Amy Fiske

Abstract

In 2021-22, approximately 37.1 million Americans provided care to family or friends who had an illness or disability (U.S. Bureau of Labor, 2024). These informal caregivers experience poorer mental health (Dahlrup et al., 2015) and physical health (Pinquart & Sorensen, 2003) influencing their overall well-being. Experiences in caregiving may differ across age, gender, race (Young et al., 2019). Given the effects of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), such as financial stability, health care, and food resources (Duran & Perez-Stable, 2019), some adults may experience additional threats to health and quality of life before entering into the caregiver role. Little is known about those who anticipate becoming a caregiver. Knowing key information about anticipated caregivers would allow better programs and policies for future caregivers. The current study includes 97,914 participants (Mean age = 55.56, 45.8% female, 81.6% white non-hispanic) who completed the 2022 BRFSS. Approximately 20.1% were current caregivers, 10.47% anticipated becoming a caregiver in the next two years, 5.3% were unsure, and 64.11% did not anticipate becoming a caregiver. One-way analysis of variance examined group differences in emotional and physical well-being. Overall, current caregivers reported poorer emotional well-being compared to the other three groups. Those who were unsure in the caregiving role reported poorer physical health than all other groups. Anticipated caregivers were better off physically but they were not far behind current caregivers with emotional well-being. Additionally, multinomial logistic regressions examined the contributions of key demographic characteristics and economic SDOH to predicting group membership. Compared to current caregivers, anticipated caregivers were more likely to be younger (OR = .99), male (OR = 1.2), and unemployed (OR = .81). Challenges related to eSDOH were higher for current than for anticipated (OR = .89), unsure (OR = .76), and those not anticipating becoming a caregiver (OR = .73). Additional post hoc analyses compared anticipated caregivers to unsure and not anticipating. More resources should be available for those prior to becoming a caregiver to alleviate future caregiver burden.

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