Primary caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities or disorders in Canada: highlights from the 2018 General Social Survey – Caregiving and Care Receiving

TL;DR

This study explores the experiences and health impacts of caregivers for individuals with developmental disabilities in Canada.

Contribution

The paper provides new insights into the mental health and satisfaction levels of caregivers for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Findings

DD caregivers are less likely to have optimal general and mental health compared to non-caregivers.

About two-thirds of DD caregivers reported feeling worried or anxious, and half had unmet support needs.

DD caregivers reported more rewarding experiences compared to caregivers of individuals with other conditions.

Abstract

Using data from the 2018 General Social Survey – Caregiving and Care Receiving, we examined the characteristics of caregivers of people with developmental disabilities or disorders (DD) and the impacts of caregiving on these caregivers. The proportion of DD caregivers with optimal general and mental health was smaller than the proportion of non-caregivers. About two-thirds of DD caregivers reported feeling worried or anxious, or tired and almost half reported unmet support needs. However, compared with caregivers of individuals with other conditions, a significantly higher proportion of DD caregivers described their caregiving experiences as rewarding.

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