Senior caretakers often feel that they have to take care of an elderly loved one. While the majority of family caregivers are female, some men may feel more burdened by caring for an elderly relative. In some cultures, male caregivers might view their role as more difficult than that of female caregivers.
Male caregivers felt themselves more burdened then female caregivers
Akpinar Kucukguclu (and Yener) conducted a quantitative and cross sectional study. They found that male caregivers felt more burdened as caregivers to older adults than the caregivers of females. NPI, the MMSE, as well as the Eyseneck personality survey were used in the study to assess caregiver burden. A Marital Satisfaction questionnaire was also used by the authors to evaluate caregivers' quality and life.
While elderly male caregivers perceived themselves as being more burdened, they also reported that formal support was more frequent than for female caregivers. In clinical settings, it is important to investigate whether gender has an impact on caregivers' perceptions and burdens.
In another study, COVID-19 was more common in male caregivers of elderly. However, men who held traditional masculinity beliefs were less likely to admit to feeling burdened. This finding highlights the mental strain associated with caring elderly persons. This finding can be further explored in countries with similar care systems, pandemic management, and other countries.
Fathers care for the elderly most often through their sons
Sons and daughters-in-law provide care for older adults together. This makes it difficult for them to be separated. The caregivers could also change their roles in the course of time which could impact the results of the study. Therefore, it is important to consider the family dynamics before making any conclusions about the role of sons in elder care.