Joint trajectories of burden and benefits of caregiving among informal caregivers of older adults with functional limitations: a longitudinal study

Informal caregiving for older adults, often long-term, can be concurrently burdensome and beneficial. This longitudinal study aims to delineate distinct joint trajectories of burden and benefits of caregiving among informal caregivers of older adults with functional limitations. We conducted group-based multi-trajectory modelling on longitudinal data – collected at four time-points – on burden (modified-Caregiver Reaction Assessment) and benefits (short Positive Aspects of Caregiving scale) from 274 informal caregivers of older adults in Singapore to delineate joint trajectories of burden and benefits. We used multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with the joint trajectories and linear regression to examine the overall well-being across caregivers with distinct joint trajectories. Four distinct joint trajectories were identified: persistently low burden and high benefits (44.5% of caregivers); persistently moderate burden and very high benefits (23.0%); persistently moderate burden and high benefits (19.0%); and persistently high burden and high benefits (13.5%). Having care-related support from an experienced/trained live-in home help worker at baseline (versus those without) was associated with persistently lower burden. Being more prepared in caregiving at baseline was associated with persistently higher benefits. The findings highlight the meaningful heterogeneity in joint trajectories of burden and benefits of caregiving. Training live-in home help workers and informal caregivers to prepare for caregiving roles may reduce burden and enhance benefits of caregiving.