Healthcare, Vol. 14, Pages 17: Examining Gender Differences and Their Associations Among Psychosocial Distress, Social Support, and Financial Well-Being of Informal Caregivers of Older Adults in the Rural Northcentral United States

Healthcare doi: 10.3390/healthcare14010017

Authors:
Nasreen Lalani
Evans Appiah Osei
Zihan Xu

Background: Financial stress can lead to emotional and psychosocial distress among informal caregivers of older adults and can have a profound impact on their overall well-being. While social support may buffer financial stress, the role of gender in moderating these relationships is less understood. This study examined whether gender moderates the associations between psychosocial distress, social support, and financial well-being among informal caregivers of older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 among 589 informal caregivers of older adults residing in twelve rural states in the North Central United States. After applying listwise deletion for missing data, 533 caregivers with complete responses were retained for the final analysis. Financial well-being was measured using the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Financial Well-Being Scale, psychosocial distress with a five-item distress scale, and social support with the OSSS-3. Gender, sociodemographic characteristics, and caregiving status were also collected. Independent t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multivariable linear regressions with interaction terms were used to assess the relationships among the study variables. Results: Male caregivers reported significantly higher financial well-being than females (52.66 vs. 50.12, p = 0.036). Stronger social support was associated with greater financial well-being (mean difference = 11.80, p < 0.001). Psychosocial distress was negatively correlated with financial well-being (r = –0.49, p < 0.001). Regression analyses revealed significant gender moderation: distress reduced financial well-being more sharply for males, while strong social support benefited females more substantially than males. Older age, higher income, and better self-rated health were also positively associated with financial well-being. Conclusions: Findings highlight gender-specific patterns in how psychosocial distress and social support influence financial well-being among informal caregivers. Future programs should consider gender-specific needs while addressing psychosocial and financial well-being of informal caregivers of older adults.

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