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Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: a meta-analysis
Pinquart M, Sörensen S.. Psychology and aging, 2003-06-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Providing care for a frail older adult has been described as a stressful experience that may erode psychological well-being and physical health of caregivers. In this meta-analysis, the authors integrated findings from 84 articles on differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in perceived stress, depression, general subjective well-being, physical health, and self-efficacy. The largest differences were found with regard to depression (g = .58), stress (g = .55), self-efficacy (g = .54), and general subjective well-being (g = -.40). Differences in the levels of physical health in favor of noncaregivers were statistically significant, but small (g = .18). However, larger differences were found between dementia caregivers and noncaregivers than between heterogeneous samples of caregivers and noncaregivers. Differences were also influenced by the quality of the study, relationship of caregiver to the care recipient, gender, and mean age of caregivers.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2003). Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: a meta-analysis. Psychology and aging. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.18.2.250
Vancouver
Pinquart M, Sörensen S. Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: a meta-analysis. Psychology and aging. 2003. doi:10.1037/0882-7974.18.2.250. PMID: 12825775.
BibTeX
@article{pinquart2003-12825775,
author = {Pinquart, M. and Sörensen, S.},
title = {{Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: a meta-analysis}},
journal = {Psychology and aging},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1037/0882-7974.18.2.250},
pmid = {12825775},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.18.2.250}
}
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Key findings
- Differences in the levels of physical health in favor of noncaregivers were statistically significant, but small (g = .18).
Why it matters
Pooling 84 articles, this 2003 meta-analysis found caregivers of frail older adults differed most from noncaregivers in depression (g = .58), stress (g = .55), self-efficacy (g = .54) and well-being (g = -.40). Physical health was worse than in noncaregivers by a statistically significant but small margin (g = .18). Gaps were larger for dementia caregivers than for mixed caregiver samples, and also varied with study quality, the caregiver's relationship to the person cared for, gender and age. These are group differences, not proof that caregiving caused them.
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Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 66/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Psychology and aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Psychology and Aging: journal h-index 243 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2003 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 2,843 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 113.7 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 46 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 455 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Silvia Sörensen: h-index 39 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Rochester: institution h-index 1,195 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12825775) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 66 / 100 | — |
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