Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Stress and Well-Being in the Everyday Lives of Caregivers

Emma Weber

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Research Mentor(s): Kira Birditt
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Institute for Social Research / Other
Program: UROP
Session: Session 4 (1:40pm – 2:30pm)
Authors: Kira Birditt, Emma Weber

Abstract

Many Americans provide care to family members or friends living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD). There is not much that is known about the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the stress of these caregivers. Over the course of five days caregivers self report six times daily on their overall well-being and experiences. At the end of each day participants are asked to reflect and discuss these experiences and the effect of Covid-19 in an open-ended question format using audio recording technology (“Please share with us how your day was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic”). The purpose of this study is to use these open ended data to describe the main sources of stress regarding the COVID-19 pandemic on ADRD caregivers. Participants’ answers to the open ended questions are transcribed using Express Scribe Transcription Software. Answers to the Covid-19 question are dichotomously coded as either stressed or not stressed. Answers implying stress are further coded by source (e.g. social isolation, social interaction, activity restriction, etc.). We will examine links between these data and self reported COVID stress and well-being from the questionnaires. We hypothesize that more caregivers report stress caused from the Covid-19 pandemic than not. Additionally, out of those who report stress due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we predict that social isolation will be the most frequently reported source of stress. We predict that stressed caregivers (especially those reporting social isolation) will report greater covid stress and poorer well-being. This will offer insight into the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on caregivers for family members or friends with ADRD, allowing for development of strategies to better assist and allocate support resources to those who need it most.

Social Science