Poor mental health days and depressive disorders comparing non-caregivers, informal non-cancer caregivers, and informal caregivers of cancer patients: BRFSS 2022-23.
- 1Indiana University School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. [email protected].
- 2University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- 3Indiana University School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
Abstract
Purpose
Informal caregivers are increasing in number, especially those caring for cancer patients, and caregiving can affect both patient outcomes and caregiver well-being. This study sought to elucidate whether the mental health outcomes differed among informal cancer caregivers, informal non-cancer caregivers, and non-caregivers.Methods
Data from 2022 and 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Surveys (BRFSS) were analyzed for 24 states administering the caregiving module. The sample included non-caregivers(n = 157,539), informal non-cancer caregivers (n = 39,047), and informal cancer caregivers (n = 3,078). Logistic regressions identified factors associated with frequent mental distress days (FMD; ≥ 6 days of poor mental health in the last 30 days) and lifetime depression diagnosis. Models included caregiver status, reporting ≥ 14 poor physical health days monthly, exercise in the previous month, age, sex, marital status, education, employment, and rural/urban status, adjusted for U.S. region and year.Results
In unadjusted comparisons, informal caregivers differed significantly from non-caregivers across several sociodemographic and health characteristics and were more likely to report FMD or a lifetime depression diagnosis. After adjusting for sociodemographics, year, U.S. region, physical health, and exercise, informal cancer caregivers had significantly higher odds of FMD than non-caregivers (aOR = 1.89, 95%CI = 1.58-2.26). Informal non-cancer caregivers had significantly higher odds of a lifetime depression diagnosis (aOR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.36-1.52) than non-caregivers.Conclusion
Cancer caregiving was more strongly associated with frequent mental distress than with lifetime depression. Integrating clinical screening into patient visits and informal caregiver supports could help identify caregiving distress during periods of increased burden and facilitate timely supportive care.
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BibTeX
@article{ward2026poor,
title = {{Poor mental health days and depressive disorders comparing non-caregivers, informal non-cancer caregivers, and informal caregivers of cancer patients: BRFSS 2022-23.}},
author = {Jeanne M Ward and John R Blosnich and Victoria Champion},
journal = {Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s00520-026-11337-y},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42873290},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Poor mental health days and depressive disorders comparing non-caregivers, informal non-cancer caregivers, and informal caregivers of cancer patients: BRFSS 2022-23.
AU - Jeanne M Ward
AU - John R Blosnich
AU - Victoria Champion
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
DO - 10.1007/s00520-026-11337-y
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42873290
AB - Purpose Informal caregivers are increasing in number, especially those caring for cancer patients, and caregiving can affect both patient outcomes and caregiver well-being. This study sought to elucidate whether the mental health outcomes differed among informal cancer caregivers, informal non-cancer caregivers, and non-caregivers.Methods Data from 2022 and 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Surveys (BRFSS) were analyzed for 24 states administering the caregiving module. The sample included non-caregivers(n = 157,539), informal non-cancer caregivers (n = 39,047), and informal cancer caregivers (n = 3,078). Logistic regressions identified factors associated with frequent mental distress days (FMD; ≥ 6 days of poor mental health in the last 30 days) and lifetime depression diagnosis. Models included caregiver status, reporting ≥ 14 poor physical health days monthly, exercise in the previous month, age, sex, marital status, education, employment, and rural/urban status, adjusted for U.S. region and year.Results In unadjusted comparisons, informal caregivers differed significantly from non-caregivers across several sociodemographic and health characteristics and were more likely to report FMD or a lifetime depression diagnosis. After adjusting for sociodemographics, year, U.S. region, physical health, and exercise, informal cancer caregivers had significantly higher odds of FMD than non-caregivers (aOR = 1.89, 95%CI = 1.58-2.26). Informal non-cancer caregivers had significantly higher odds of a lifetime depression diagnosis (aOR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.36-1.52) than non-caregivers.Conclusion Cancer caregiving was more strongly associated with frequent mental distress than with lifetime depression. Integrating clinical screening into patient visits and informal caregiver supports could help identify caregiving distress during periods of increased burden and facilitate timely supportive care.
SN - 0941-4355
SN - 1433-7339
ER -