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The causes and consequences of stress in the context of caregiving
Feb 5, 2024
The causes of stress among caregivers can be varied, and each individual may be affected differently by stressors. Furthermore, a person may be more or less vulnerable to a stressor depending on what is happening in their life. Even though caregiving can be a positive and rewarding experience, helping a loved one can also be a significant source of stress.
This stress can arise from caregiving tasks, such as transportation assistance, shopping, feeding the person, preparing meals, providing emotional support, managing difficult behaviors, ensuring safety, etc. The number of tasks to be performed, their duration and intensity influence the level of stress. Stress can also come from the type of illness or disability. Indeed, some health issues are more unpredictable than others and require constant adaptation from the caregiver. The grief and losses associated with certain illnesses can also cause stress. In many cases, caregiving leads to financial difficulties due to unpaid leave or work stoppages to help loved ones. Additionally, caregiving situations sometimes lead to interpersonal conflicts, and the numerous obligations can compromise social relationships.
Moreover, caregivers often prioritize the needs of the person being cared for and neglect their own needs (such as not making medical appointments when necessary, skipping meals, not getting enough sleep, ignoring signs of psychological distress, etc.). Finally, being a young caregiver also has consequences on stress, especially due to the challenge of balancing studies and caregiving. Being an older caregiver or one with low socioeconomic status or little support can make someone more vulnerable.
If stress is not managed properly, it can become chronic, and people who have been suffering from stress for a long time may face severe health issues due to increased vulnerability to illnesses.
According to Hans Selye, a pioneer in stress research, the impact of stress on health occurs in three phases:
Sources:
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).