Caregiving - Science topic

Background: Acquired neurological diseases significantly alter the dynamics between patients and their caregiving relatives, particularly spouses. This study investigates how these disorders impact the patient-spouse relationship and assesses the role of healthcare professionals in shaping these dynamics during long-term rehabilitation. Methods: We...

Children under institutional care are deprived of a consistent, stable, and responsive caregiving relationship. The lack of significant primary caregivers in these children's lives puts them at substantial risk and may have long-term, irreversible consequences along with a heightened risk of developing insecure attachment. A thorough examination of...

Social care robots (SCR) have come to the forefront of the ethical debate. While the possibility of robots helping us tackle the global care crisis is promising for some, others have raised concerns about the adequacy of AI-driven technologies for the ethically complex world of care. The robots do not seem able to provide the comprehensive care man...

The stigma and invisibility surrounding mental health often lead to alienation and reinforce societal misconceptions. This paper examines how the concept of inxeba elin-gaphakathi (the invisible wound) in isiXhosa encapsulates the emotional and psychological pain frequently overlooked in mental health discussions, particularly among Black South Afr...

Backgroud Youth living in residential youth care (RYC) have complex needs that should be properly addressed, while RYC workers are susceptible to stress and burnout due to the demanding nature of their profession. Compassion plays a significant role in caregiving, and its benefits for professionals and clients have been reported in several care set...

The absence of significant primary caregivers in institutionalized children’s lives increases their vulnerability, particularly elevating the risk of insecure attachment. Research exploring their attachment representations through representational measures in India remains limited, with concerns about standardization, validation, cultural and conte...

Background: Caregiver burden refers to the detrimental effects of caregiving on a caregiver's health, well-being, quality of life (QoL), and adaptation to challenging circumstances. The trajectory of any chronic mental disease is determined by the burden of morbidity, treatment costs, and the caregivers' responsibilities during the rehabilitation p...

Background Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, significantly impacting global health, particularly for women. It accounts for 4.3% of the total disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), making it a major contributor to global disability. The high rate of depression in developing nations, the caregiving responsibilities of caregiver...

This scoping review consolidates research on young carers in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting cultural, social and economic factors shaping their experiences. It includes 18 studies from nine African countries exploring caregiving responsibilities and impacts on young carers. Young caregiving in Africa is deeply intertwined with cultural norms that...

Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent mental diagnosis among children. This leads to a persistent pattern of hyperactivity and inattention that hinders functioning and development and places strain on parents. The goal of this study was to assess the incidence of ADHD symptoms in a pediatric population and to mea...

INTRODUCTION Caregiver–care recipient (CR) interactions are central to caregiving, yet little is known about dementia caregivers’ daily experiences with CRs. This study examines within‐day effects of time interacting with CRs and interaction quality on caregivers’ heart rate (HR) and whether friend interactions buffer these effects. METHODS Dement...

The mobility of care encompasses trips made to fulfil caregiving and domestic responsibilities, like escorting children, visiting seniors in need, or grocery shopping. Although it plays a prominent role in adults' daily life, the mobility of care is still limitedly explored and most studies focus on its role in large cities. Conversely, it is under...

Background Preterm birth is a leading cause of childhood mortality and developmental disabilities, with persistent socioeconomic disparities in incidence and outcomes. Maternal presence during prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization is critical for preterm infant health, enabling mothers to provide breast milk, directly breast...

Aim To explore how older women experiencing poverty in a high‐income country perceive their family caregiver role from a gender perspective. Design Descriptive qualitative study. Method A convenience sample of seventeen older female caregivers experiencing poverty was interviewed in‐depth between October 2023 and March 2024. Reflexive thematic an...

People living with dementia and their care partners benefit from services and supports from a wide variety of healthcare and social service professionals. This article provides an overview of the dementia care workforce and highlights gaps and opportunities for data collection and research to advance the workforce and its contributions to high‐qual...

INTRODUCTION As India's population ages, the prevalence of dementia is increasing rapidly, inducing higher need for informal caregivers for a complex population. However, the effects of individuals' cognitive impairment on their caregivers' well‐being in India have not been well studied. METHODS We analyzed data from 4196 informants of participant...

Background Sociodemographic characteristics can influence the burden of caring for patients with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Aim The aim of this study was to ascertain the sociodemographic characteristics implicated in severe caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Methods Over 3 months, 300 caregivers...

Caregivers of older adults with dementia generally report poorer mental health than those caring for other chronic conditions. Research indicates that coping resources such as resilience and perceived gains can improve mental health. This study examined the indirect effects of dementia caregiving status on mental health through coping resources. Pa...

As the rates of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD and related dementias (ADRD) in the United States steadily rise, so too does the demand for informal caregiving. Research on AD/ADRD caregiving highlights the associated risk of adverse health outcomes and lower quality of life; however, there is a lack of discussion about Black male dementia caregive...

Purpose Few existing interventions have effectively improved the quality of life (QOL) for patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers, partly due to limited research on the factors associated with QOL. Guided by an adapted stress-coping model, this study aimed to examine the associations between the QOL of cancer patients and their caregive...

Background. Across human societies, grandmothers enhance the survival and wellbeing of offspring and grandchildren through caregiving. Comparative evidence suggests that postmenopausal grandmaternal investment represents a uniquely human life history adaptation among primates, yet the neurobiological and molecular mechanisms supporting grandmaterna...

Climate change has profound impacts on women's health and wellbeing, particularly in the Global South, which is disproportionately affected by environmental threats. Peru, one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich countries worldwide, is uniquely vulnerable to these effects due to its diverse ecosystems each facing distinct climate challenges....

Identifying and addressing inequities in palliative care is an area of growing interest and importance. In this critical essay, we aim to challenge embedded assumptions about ‘family’ caregiving in white, Western systems (e.g. that of the nuclear family as carers) and focus on how the social determinants of health (SDOH; e.g. income and social prot...

Background Acknowledging the impact of chronic kidney disease on caregivers’ quality of life (QoL) and psychological well-being has become a global priority, highlighting the need for supportive interventions specifically aimed at caregivers. Aims This study aimed to assess the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression among family caregivers o...

Purpose Dyadic coping interventions alleviate emotional problems in patients and families with a variety of chronic illnesses. Current coping research on depression focuses mainly on the individual level. This study examined the experiences of people with depression and their spouses, using a dyadic coping perspective to support the implementation...

Parental substance use disorder (SUD) constitutes a major public health problem and a well-known risk condition for child development, largely due to exposure to dysfunctional caregiving practices, ranging from less-than-optimal maternal sensitivity to severe forms of abuse or neglect. However, most research focused on specific parenting features o...

This pilot randomized trial examined the effects of a psychoeducational intervention on caregiving burden, anxiety, internalized stigma, and coping strategies among caregivers of children with epilepsy. Using a randomized design, 54 caregivers were assigned to either an experimental (n = 28) or control (n = 26) group. The 6‐week intervention includ...

Background Caregiving to lung cancer patients is distressing, isolating, and associated with a high burden of anxiety and depression. However, few population-based studies in the U.S. have examined the risk of mental health conditions (MHCs) among spouses of lung cancer patients after the death of their partner. Guided by Anderson’s Behavioral Heal...

Background X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) is a rare, life-threatening congenital myopathy with multisystem involvement, which often includes the need for invasive ventilator support, gastrostomy tube feeding, and wheelchair use in approximately 80% of patients. The direct and indirect financial impact of extensive supportive care, as reported...

Objectives Caregiving has been widely recognised as a potential risk factor for caregivers’ psychological well-being in previous studies. The objective of this study is to examine the association between multiple factors of the caregiving process and the depression risk of caregivers, as well as the mediating effect of caregiver burden in these ass...

This paper examines how caregiving influences employment transitions among employed mid-life adults (50–69 years) who began providing non-professional care on a daily basis to someone inside or outside their household. Using data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) from 2004 to 2017, we apply a difference-in-difference...

Background and Objectives: As low and middle-income countries face a rapid increase in their older adult populations, the demand for informal caregiving is expected to rise. Understanding caregiving dynamics in these settings is crucial for developing effective support systems. Aims: To investigate whether the frequency and duration of care provide...

Background Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE), developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) with a global perspective, faces varying degrees of barriers to implementation, particularly in middle-and low-income countries. Therefore, as with other new public service interventions, we draw on established integrated care interventions to desi...

Purpose Family caregivers assist cancer patients in making medical decisions, yet their roles in clinical trial decisions remain understudied. This study aimed to determine how caregivers participate in clinical trial decisions from the perspectives of both caregivers and research staff. Methods Family caregivers of patients offered participation...

Aims The study aimed to explore the recent scientific literature regarding the knowledge, attitudes and practices of informal caregivers towards supporting a person with astroke. Design This study was a scoping review that followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA‐ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Me...

The global population is undergoing a profound demographic shift characterised by declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy, resulting in rapid population ageing. By 2050, the number of people aged 60 and older is projected to reach 2.1 billion, representing 21% of the global population (United Nations, 2019). Once a young nation, Sr...

Dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving are defined as rigid and inappropriate interpretations of one’s experiences, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that are associated with providing care to a dependent relative. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation of the Dysfunctional Thoughts about Caregiving Question...

Introduction Most caregiving research and policy has focused on dyadic, unidirectional relationships with one caregiver and one care receiver despite evidence for more complex caring relationships. Objective To describe caregivers and care receivers’ relationships, with a focus on non-dyadic relationships, using baseline data from the Canadian Lon...

Objective This study aims to translate and validate the CarerQol in a sample of informal caregivers in China. Method The CarerQol was translated following a standard process. Validation data was collected from multiple sources, including hospitals, patient associations, and community health centers between September 2023 and December 2024 in China...

The aging population is one of the key features of modern demographic processes, shaping future projections and serving as an essential basis for defining healthcare objectives. This phenomenon impacts not only economic indicators but also sets new healthcare goals, with a primary focus on ensuring healthy aging to mitigate the effects of an aging...

Background The “caregiver burden” experienced by pet owners arises from the challenges and strains of caregiving, reflecting the complex relationship between humans and their pet animals and significantly impacting the quality of life of both humans and pets. This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the caregiver burden among South Korean pet own...

Young carers (YCs), defined as children or adolescents with substantial caregiving responsibilities for family members, face increased mental health risks, particularly depression. However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear due to limited quantitative research. Emerging adulthood is a psychologically vulnerable period involv...

Few studies have examined the pandemic’s impact on both parents-to-be. Our study examined parents’-to-be pandemic-related stress, correlates of pandemic-related stress, and dyadic agreement on pandemic-related stress and its impact. Participants consisted of 74 parent-to-be dyads recruited from a larger text-messaging intervention of fathers-to-be...

Background Family caregivers are crucial for the post-discharge recovery of patients who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery. They encounter caregiving burdens in various aspects, affecting their well-being and quality of life. This study explored the contributing and alleviating factors of care burden in family caregivers of patients with...

This study investigates mental health mastery among informal caregivers in the Philippines, focusing on empowering Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) through Interlocutor Analysis. Despite their pivotal role in supporting individuals with mental health conditions, there is limited research on caregivers' well-being and potential empowerment strategies....

Objectives This study explored the forms and motivations of older migrants' creative engagement in the host country in their daily context, and how the engagement influences older migrants in their postmigration life. Methods A qualitative approach was used by conducting in‐depth interviews and photo elicitation with 18 older Chinese migrants in N...

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore caregiver burden and its influencing factors in cancer patients undergoing palliative PTBD from both caregiver and patient perspectives. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on caregiver-patient dyads who underwent palliative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) from January to...

Pregnancy induces structural and functional adaptations in brain regions dedicated to social cognition and caregiving (Barba-Müller et al., 2019 ; Servin-Barthet et al., 2023). During pregnancy, mothers also experience psychological and neural changes that predict how they will engage with their infants after birth, linking prenatal mental health w...

Objective Building on Bowlby's attachment theory and Marvin and Pianta's framework, the current study investigated the role of the resolution of the diagnosis as a potential protective factor in shaping the quality of affective sibling relationships. The study examined whether the typically developing (TD) siblings' resolution of the diagnosis of t...

The implementation of this research, conducted through Community Service Activities, is grounded in the conditions experienced by parents in caring for children with special needs, such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, cerebral palsy, or other developmental disorders. The heavy burden of caregiving can increase the risk of psychological distress....

This article presents a feminist critical reading of the Plague Tale game series, addressing the lack of complex portrayals of mothers and mothering in games. Through close reading using Ruddick’s maternal thinking framework as an analytical lens, it focuses on how narrative, gameplay, and character design depict player-character Amicia’s ‘motherly...

The ageing of the global population prompts many countries to appropriately allocate healthcare resources that ensure adequate elder care. Nevertheless, the shortages in and burdens of professional care continue to persist. Assistive and remote monitoring technologies for home-use support professional carers in providing care to older persons. With...

Fathers of children with special needs often face immense emotional and psychological challenges, yet their caregiving role is frequently overlooked—especially in cultures influenced by traditional patriarchal norms. In Hong Kong, where open discussions about fatherhood and emotional struggles remain limited, many fathers experience deep-seated fee...

In this article, we present knowledge gained from a collaborative autoethnography on our experiences as mothers related explicitly to teacher-family communication and how we leverage this knowledge as mathematics teacher educators to prepare pre-service teachers for effective teacher-family communication. Our field has explored student mathematical...

Background Patients with heart failure have significant palliative care needs but few receive palliative care. Guidance is lacking on how to integrate palliative care into standard heart failure care. Palliative care interventions often lack an underpinning theory and details on how key components interact to achieve an impact. Understanding how an...

Background Medical students are the future doctors and play an essential role in the management of health issues. Their understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not only required but also necessary to provide the best possible care to patients. The present study aimed to assess medical students' knowledge about AD within the context of the rece...

Introduction: This study aims to examine informal care networks for aging adults with functional disabilities in China by exploring caregivers within broader social relationships. It further investigates the multifaceted determinants of care network typologies across individual, household, and policy dimensions. Materials and Methods: Data were der...

Background: Mothering a child with special needs brings multifaceted emotional, psychological, and practical challenges, particularly within the framework of inclusive education. In contexts where systems are under-resourced or lack sensitivity, mothers often bear the dual burden of caregiving and advocacy. Inclusive education, while rooted in prin...

AI assistants are increasingly integrated into older adults' daily lives, offering new opportunities for social support and accessibility while raising important questions about privacy, autonomy, and trust. As these systems become embedded in caregiving and social networks, older adults must navigate trade-offs between usability, data privacy, and...

Objectives Canada has one of the highest rates of Type 1 diabetes in children. Management of their diabetes and prevention of poor health outcomes often falls on mothers who are often the primary caregiver. The caregiving demands can result in substantial responsibility and stress. Mothers report career sacrifices, sleep deprivation, stress, grief,...

Sri Lankan households depend on backyard poultry production for both income and nutrition. The main objective of this study is to explore gender roles associated with backyard poultry farming in Sri Lanka based on region, ethnicity, and the key practices which influence health risks. The study employed primary data collected through semi-struct...

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered family dynamics worldwide, with distinct implications for children's roles in household consumption-particularly in gendered contexts. This study examines the psychological and social impacts of the pandemic on Jordanian children, focusing on how gender shapes their participation and responsibilities...

To examine the relationship between adversity in childhood and regular caregiving of a parent in adulthood. Using 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from four states that administered both the caregiving and Adverse Childhood Experiences modules (n = 18,909), we conducted logistic regression to estimate the relationship be...

This paper explores the capacity of orphans to transform adversity into strength, leveraging psychological resilience, neurobiological adaptation, and structured support systems. With an estimated 153 million orphans globally (UNICEF, 2023), traditional approaches often focus on fragility reduction rather than fostering anti-fragility, where indivi...

Poverty persists in many countries especially those in the sub-Saharan African region where the levels have been getting worse. The extent of poverty has been worsened in the last 5 years by the many exogenous factors that have gone beyond the control of individual countries. From Covid-19 in late 2019 to early 2020 going all the way to 2021, to Uk...

Background Informal care is a vital part of care for many people with chronic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Though challenging and demanding, many individuals are involved in the provision of this care. However, it is unclear what motivates people in sub-Saharan Africa to provide informal care. Therefore, this study explored the motivations to be...

Gender socialization profoundly shapes individuals' perceptions, aspirations, and ultimately, their career trajectories, perpetuating entrenched occupational segregation. This qualitative study examines how gender socialization influences career choices, employing a sociological lens to uncover the underlying mechanisms that steer men and women tow...

Introduction Having a child with complex care needs (CCNs) can significantly impact families’ daily life structure. High caregiving responsibilities perceived by mothers and limited access to services—especially in rural settings—can affect their mental health and lead to caregiver burnout. Objectives This study aimed to explore the challenges fac...

This manuscript introduces the Black Mother-Daughter Developmental Model (BMDDM), a life course conceptual framework developed to capture the dynamic, intergenerational evolution of Black mother-daughter relationships. Informed by Black Feminist Thought, family systems theory, and the sociocultural construct of matrescence, this study draws on in-d...

Infant care is critical for survival and healthy development. In laboratory mice, unmated males and females display infant-directed behavior ranging from neglect and aggression to alloparental care. Previous research suggests that excitatory neurons in the perifornical area of the hypothalamus (PeFA) mediate pup-directed aggression. Because medial...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the physical activity level in the third trimester and the time of labor onset. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty women with low-risk pregnancies, who gave birth at 37 weeks of gestation or beyond, and completed the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire were included in this...

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication difficulties and the presence of repetitive behaviors. Although there have been international studies exploring how ASD impacts the family, few have explored the paternal caregiving experience in the context of the Philippine environment. Caregivin...

Background This study examines the impact of non-care-related stressors and resilience factors on the mental health of caregivers for chronically ill and disabled children. It aims to identify the daily stressors and protective factors most relevant to caregiver well-being. Methods A total of 202 caregivers (predominantly female, aged 25–59) parti...

Background: In recent scenario across the world, ever rising number of cancer cases are emerging as one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality both in developing and developed countries. Breast cancer patients need care and support for which family members are the primary caregivers. The study aimed to assess caregiver burden and its assoc...

Background Web-based interventions have been acknowledged as a valuable resource in managing caregiving duties, enhancing coping abilities, and improving quality of life (QoL), thereby alleviating burden and mitigating stress. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a web-based education program on the knowledge, coping strategies,...

Background The COVID-19 pandemic placed considerable stress on the global nursing workforce. Increasing nurses’ readiness to respond to future threats is a public health priority. As such, exploring nurses’ experiences as providers during the COVID-19 epidemic has important implications for developing interventions that assist in managing caregivin...

Despite shouldering primary caregiving responsibilities, women's socio-cultural context often restricts their access to resources and entrepreneurship, exacerbating their vulnerability to poverty. This highlights the significance of exploring the role of female entrepreneurs in poverty alleviation, particularly in contexts where women's economic em...

This study explores occupational balance (OB) and caregiver burden among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey of 89 parents from National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) centres used the Zarit Burden Interview and Occupational Balance Questionnaire. Results showed significant demographic v...

Background The Family Caregiver Medication Administration Hassle Scale (FCMAHS) assesses the stress experienced by family caregivers in managing daily medication regimens for older adults. However, its suitability for the Taiwanese healthcare context has not yet been established. Objective To translate, cross-culturally adapt, and evaluate the rel...

Smoking remains a prevalent habit in many households, particularly in regions where cultural norms strongly accept tobacco use. The aim of this study was to examine the influential role of wives in Gayo Lues, Aceh, Indonesia, in promoting smoking cessation within their families. Amidst cultural norms that widely accept smoking, these wives employed...

Musculoskeletal disorders, particularly lower back pain, are common among healthcare workers due to frequent lifting, bending, and prolonged standing. To address this issue, we developed a lightweight, soft, and active exoskeleton designed to support lifting movements while maintaining user mobility and comfort. This paper presents the design of th...

Background The needs and support requirements of double duty caregivers (DDC) by healthcare professionals differ depending on whether they identify themselves as a professional nurse or family caregiver in private care arrangements. Questions of identity are usually not addressed by the DDCs. Resulting misunderstandings have the potential for confl...

Background Nursing students, as future healthcare professionals, hold a crucial role in delivering high-quality care to older adults. Their ability to provide effective geriatric care depends significantly on comprehensive knowledge and the cultivation of positive attitudes, and behaviors. Recognizing this critical responsibility, this study aimed...

Background This longitudinal study analyzed the association between informal caregiving inside and caregiving outside the household with changes in grip strength, and whether these associations varied based on caregivers’ gender and age among adults in Europe. Methods Data from the longitudinal Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SH...

Child mental health research in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) has largely focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and associated risks. While this approach has advanced understanding of developmental vulnerabilities, it neglects the role of positive experiences in fostering resilience. This article calls for a shift toward integra...

Informal caregivers play an important part in the healthcare of patients with chronic diseases, including those leading to visual impairment. X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is considered one of the most severe forms of retinitis pigmentosa and causes declines in vision starting in childhood, ultimately progressing to legal blindness in adulth...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the emotional and mental health challenges of caregivers caring for patients suffering from bipolar disorder in Pakistan. MethodologyA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 300 caregivers selected through purposive non-probability sampling from 5 mega cities of Pakistan, La...

Purpose The health literacy of family caregivers (CGs) of patients with cancer is an essential factor that needs to be addressed given their vital roles in cancer care. Yet, little is known about the factors associated with the health literacy of cancer CGs, particularly during the initial stage of cancer treatment. We aimed to examine the factors...

The health and social needs of LGBT older adults remain underrepresented in public health research, particularly in states where data collection on sexual and gender minorities has been limited. This study reports findings from the Kentucky LGBT Health Needs Assessment, a community-generated, statewide evaluation of adults aged 50 and older. Employ...

Background Mental diseases or mental disorders are conditions that affect the mind and are defined by changes in emotion, thought, or behavior. Many studies have demonstrated that people with mental illnesses are not receiving the necessary care and treatments, despite the fact that they need basic healthcare services and supportive strategies. Par...

Introduction Although informal caregivers are the primary providers of long-term care for the elderly globally, research on the impact of caregiving experiences on the well-being of caregivers is relatively limited. Methods This study conducted interviews with 297 family informal caregivers in Shanghai, measured their subjective burdens, and appli...

Objective: To identify and analyze articles that present group interventions with caregivers of older adults, evaluating the main effects of the interventions on caregiver health. Theoretical Framework: In the Brazilian context, caregiving is typically undertaken by family members, especially women, often without adequate preparation to meet these...

Objective While the impact of caregiving on physical and mental health has been studied, there remains a gap in understanding the relationship between caregiving and mental well-being within a robust theoretical framework. Moreover, existing research provides mixed findings regarding the burden experienced by caregivers and its impact on their heal...

BACKGROUND Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people are underrepresented in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) caregiving research. This study examines potential factors associated with the health of SGM ADRD caregivers. METHODS A secondary analysis using data from an online survey with a sample of SGM ADRD caregivers (n = 286). Hiera...

Background Older unpaid caregivers often face social isolation and loneliness, yet risk factors for social disconnection remain largely unexplored. As the demand for unpaid caregiving rises with an aging population, there is a need for targeted interventions to reduce social disconnectedness in this vulnerable group. This study aimed to identify de...