# Quality of life among older informal caregivers in Sweden: the role of loneliness and social isolation

## TL;DR

This study shows that older caregivers in Sweden with poor mental quality of life often experience loneliness and social isolation, especially women and men with high isolation levels.

## Contribution

The study identifies distinct quality of life profiles among older caregivers and reveals gender differences in how social isolation affects mental well-being.

## Key findings

- Three QoL profiles were identified: good (57.9%), moderate (34.8%), and moderate physical, poor mental (7.3%).
- Loneliness and social isolation were strongly linked to the poor mental QoL profile, particularly among female spousal caregivers.
- Men with high social isolation were more likely to have worse QoL than women with similar isolation levels.

## Abstract

Older adults are increasingly taking up caregiving roles due to the mismatch between available formal care services and growing demands. We aimed to identify profiles of older caregivers according to their quality of life (QoL), and to explore the associations of such profiles with loneliness and social isolation.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using cohort data from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K). The study included a total of 994 unique caregivers aged 60 and above, assessed between 2001 and 2016. Multiple correspondence analysis and cluster analysis were used to obtain caregiver profiles according to the items of SF-12 QoL instrument. Multinomial logistic regressions with robust standard errors were performed to study the associations between QoL, loneliness and social isolation.

Three distinct QoL profiles were identified: good (57.9%), moderate (34.8%), and moderate physical, poor mental (7.3%) QoL. The latter profile was characterized by the predominance of female spousal caregivers, who provided the most hours of care. Loneliness and social isolation were independently associated with higher odds of being in the moderate physical, poor mental QoL profile, compared to the good QoL profile. Men with higher social isolation levels were more likely to be in the worse QoL profile compared to women with similarly high levels of isolation.

Our findings emphasize that a substantial proportion of older caregivers have suboptimal QoL, and that those with poor mental QoL also experience higher levels of loneliness and social isolation. Targeted policies to reduce caregiver burden and enhance their QoL are essential.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11136-025-04156-x.

Older adults are increasingly taking on caregiving roles due to gaps in formal care services. This study examines how loneliness and social isolation correlate with the quality of life (QoL) among older caregivers, identifying distinct profiles within this group. Using data from 994 caregivers aged 60 and older in the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), researchers classified caregivers into three QoL profiles: good (57.9%), moderate (34.8%), and moderate physical, poor mental QoL (7.3%).

Caregivers in the poorest mental health profile were predominantly female spouses providing the most hours of care. Loneliness and social isolation were strongly associated with being in this group compared to those with good QoL. Additionally, men with higher levels of social isolation were more likely than women with similarly high levels of isolation to experience worse QoL, suggesting a gendered impact of social isolation on QoL.

These findings reveal that many older caregivers face significant mental and social challenges, particularly those providing intensive care or experiencing high isolation. The study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted policies to alleviate caregiver burden and improve their QoL through support programs addressing mental health, loneliness, and social connections.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11136-025-04156-x.