Medical Health Encyclopedia

It may be helpful to keep in mind that bosses are also victimized by the same stressful conditions they are imposing. For example, in a 2001 study of male managers in three Swedish companies, those who worked in a bureaucracy had greater stress-related heart risks than those who worked in companies with social supports.

Caregiving

Caregivers of Family Members. Studies show that caregivers of physically or mentally disabled family members are at risk for chronic stress. Furthermore, a 1999 study reported that over-all mortality rates were over 60% higher in caregivers who were under constant stress. Spouses caring for a disabled partner are particularly vulnerable to a range of stress-related health threats including influenza, depression, heart disease, and even poorer survival rates. Caring for a spouse with even minor disabilities can induce severe stress.

Specific risk factors that put caregivers at higher risk for severe stress or stress-related illnesses include the following:

• Caregiving wives. Some studies suggest that wives experience significantly greater stress from caregiving than husbands do. In fact, in a 2000 study, caregiving wives tended to feel more negative about their husbands than caregiving husbands felt about their wives.
• Having a low income.
• Being African American. African Americans tend to be in poorer physical health and have lower incomes than Caucasians and so face greater stress as caregivers to their spouses than their Caucasian counterparts.
• Living alone with the patient.
• Helping a highly dependent patient.
• Having a difficult relationship with the patient.

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Intervention programs that are aimed at helping the caregiver approach the situation positively can be very helpful at reducing stress and helping the caregiver maintain a positive attitude. A 2002 program also demonstrated that moderate-intensity exercise was very helpful in reducing stress and improving sleep in caregivers.