Senior caretakers often feel that they have to take care of an elderly loved one. Even though most family caregivers tend to be women, it is possible for men to feel the responsibility of caring for an older loved one more strongly. In some cultures, men caregivers may see their role as more stressful than women.
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, MMSE and Eyseneck personality questions were used to analyze caregiver burden. The authors also used a Marital Satisfaction questionnaire to assess caregivers' quality of life.
While male elderly caregivers perceived themselves to be more burdened than their female counterparts, they also indicated that they used formal support more often than female caretakers. In clinical settings, it is important to investigate whether gender has an impact on caregivers' perceptions and burdens.
In another study, male caregivers of the elderly who were exposed to COVID-19 were more likely to report feeling burdened. However, men who held traditional masculinity beliefs felt less burdened. This highlights the mental burden associated caring for older people. This finding may be extended to other countries that have similar systems of care and manage pandemics.
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. Moreover, the caregivers may switch roles over time, which could affect the results of the study. Studies on elder care in families must consider the dynamics of the network before drawing conclusions about the primary caregivers, such as the role of their sons.