Mental health, social integration and support of informal caregivers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based representative study from Germany

INTRODUCTION: The study analyzed mental health, social integration and social support of informal caregivers of individuals aged ≥60 years compared to non-caregivers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample drawn randomly from the nationally representative online panel forsa.omninet in Germany between March 4th and 19th 2021. In total, 3022 adults aged ≥40 years from Germany were questioned, including 489 adults providing informal care for adults aged ≥60 years between December 2020 and March 2021. Depressive (PHQ-9) and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), loneliness (De Jong Gierveld Scale), social exclusion (Bude & Lantermann Scale) and social network support (Lubben's Social Network Scale) were measured. Adjusted OLS regression analyses and additional moderator analyses (moderators: perceived restrictions and danger of infection due to the COVID-19 pandemic) were conducted. RESULTS: Significant higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms and more social support were found among informal caregivers compared to non-caregivers. Loneliness and social exclusion did not differ between both groups. Perceived restrictions by the pandemic significantly moderated the association between informal caregiving and social support – social support was stronger among caregivers with higher levels of perceived restrictions by the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Informal caregivers are faced with worse mental health than non-caregivers during the pandemic, although their social support was stronger, in particular in dependence of higher levels of perceived restrictions by the pandemic. Thus, results indicate a need for an informal-care-specific policy and more professional support for informal caregivers during a health crisis.