Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Mar;38(1):104-113.
doi: 10.1111/scs.13199. Epub 2023 Jul 31.

Exploring informal caregivers' well-being during COVID-19 through online discussion forums

Anni Lindroos  1 , Nicola Douglas-Smith  1
Affiliations

Exploring informal caregivers' well-being during COVID-19 through online discussion forums

Anni Lindroos et al. Scand J Caring Sci. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has increased pressures on caregivers, disruptions to health services and increased health concerns during COVID-19. Reports have been made on informal carers' increased workload and limited support services during the pandemic.

Aims: This study aimed to explore how informal caregivers experienced their well-being during COVID-19 through online discussion forums.

Materials and methods: A reflexive thematic analysis characterised by theoretical flexibility, organic inductive coding processes and theme development was conducted on online discussion forums. The method highlighted theme reviewing which was done twice to encourage data reflection. The project was conducted on a novel topic which was a new area of research interest. Semantic coding where participants' words were used directly in the interpretation and construction of themes was used.

Results: In the theme 'Locked in or locked away' caregivers worried about continuing care at home, due to limited freedom and worries of hiring help during a pandemic. Some expressed worries about visitation rights and grief of not being present with a loved one if they would reside in a care home. The theme 'Nothing left to give' suggested that COVID-19 exasperated caregivers' loneliness, social isolation and increased responsibilities and challenges with other roles. Bitterness, resentment and anger were felt towards lack of social support and workload. Theme 'Celebrating a virtual way of life' described how caregivers used online forums when other support services were disrupted.

Discussion: We discuss the role of informal caregiver that was described as all-encompassing during COVID-19. We highlight the importance of advanced planning for care home transitions and the use of online forums as a form of support. We suggest further exploration into informal caregivers' role balancing.

Conclusion: COVID-19 seemed to affect informal caregivers negatively, but they reframed their situations and sought online support. With COVID-19-related restrictions and increased workload, COVID-19 added an all-or-nothing aspect to care home transition decisions.

Keywords: COVID-19; discussion forum; informal caregiver; online research; respite care; thematic analysis; well-being.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

REFERENCES

    1. Sohrabi C, Alsafi Z, O'Neill N, Khan M, Kerwan A, Al-Jabir A, et al. World Health Organization declares global emergency: a review of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Int J Surg. 2020;76:71-76.
    1. Li J, Yang Z, Qiu H, Wang Y, Jian L, Ji J, et al. Anxiety and depression among general population in China at the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic. World Psychiatry. 2020;19(2):249-250.
    1. Smith LE, Amlôt R, Fear NT, Michie S, Rubin GJ, Potts HWW. Psychological wellbeing in the English population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a series of cross-sectional surveys. J Psychiatr Res. 2022;153:254-259.
    1. Topriceanu C-C, Wong A, Moon JC, Hughes AD, Bann D, Chaturvedi N, et al. Evaluating access to health and care services during lockdown by the COVID-19 survey in five UK national longitudinal studies. BMJ Open. 2021;11(3):e045813.
    1. del -Pino-Casado R, Frías-Osuna A, Palomino-Moral PA, Ramón Martínez-Riera J. Gender differences regarding informal caregivers of older people. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2012;44(4):349-357.

LinkOut - more resources