Filial Caregiving is Associated with Greater Neuroendocrine Dysfunction: Evidence from the 2005 National Survey of Midlife in the U.S.

Objectives: This study examined associations between providing caregiving for a biological or adoptive parent and clinically-assessed biological risk factors (allostatic load [AL] and its three subscales - inflammatory dysfunction, metabolic dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysfunction), as well as moderation of these associations by gender.

Method: Regression models were estimated using telephone and self-report data from 962 men and women who participated in the National Survey of Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS) 2005.

Results: Filial caregivers demonstrated higher levels of neuroendocrine dysfunction. No gender difference in biological risks was found.

Discussion: Filial caregiving is the most prevalent form of family caregiving and results indicating the presence of greater neuroendocrine dysfunction among filial caregivers in contrast to noncaregivers suggest an important public health concern. Future research needs to continue to examine different relationship types of caregivers and include a range of biological risk measurement to further the understanding of how family caregiving is linked to biological health risks.