Predictors of loneliness in caregivers of persons with Parkinson's disease

This study examined loneliness among caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). The sample included 70 caregivers (74% female; 96% spouses) who were currently living with the patient. A postal survey was sent to caregivers of persons with PD on the mailing list of a regional Parkinson association; response rate was 39%. Assessment instruments included the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Social Provisions Scale, Hoehn and Yahr (caregiver version), a perceived Self-Efficacy Scale developed previously for use with PD caregivers, and questions related to both patient and caregiver characteristics. Caregivers reported more loneliness than all similar normative groups except Alzheimer caregivers (P < 0.001 to P = 0.011). Hierarchical regression analyses were used to determine whether patient or caregiver characteristics were more predictive of loneliness. Results indicated that patient variables accounted for only 12% of the variance in loneliness, whereas caregiver variables accounted for an additional 46% of the variance (P < 0.01). Among the significant individual caregiver predictors of greater loneliness were less education, lower perceived self-efficacy (both P < 0.05) and poorer physical health (P < 0.01). It was also found that persons attending caregiver support groups reported less loneliness (P < 0.05) and more perceived support (P < 0.05) than those not attending support groups. Because loneliness was significantly predicted by caregiver rather than patient variables, it is possible that strategic interventions for caregivers could ameliorate loneliness.