Comparison of views on aging between family caregivers of people living with dementia and non-caregivers: Australian data spanning the full adult lifespan

Objective/background Emerging evidence suggests that supporting a family member living with dementia can shape caregivers’ views on aging. However, existing research has focused predominately on middle-aged and older caregivers. This study relied on individuals aged between 18 and 88 years to examine the cross-sectional associations between caregiving status and general and personal views on aging, and examined whether age moderated these associations. Methods Participants were 158 family caregivers of people living with dementia and 229 non-caregivers residing in Australia, aged 18 to 88 years. Validated and widely-used measures were employed. General views on aging were assessed using Non-Essentialist Beliefs about Aging and Expectations Regarding Aging questionnaires. Personal views on aging were assessed using the Felt Age and Awareness of Age-Related Change (gains and losses) measures. Associations were examined using multivariable regression models. Results Compared with non-caregivers, family caregivers reported more essentialist beliefs about aging (β= -0.12), more negative expectations regarding aging in the mental health domain (β= -0.19), and greater awareness of personal age-related losses (β = 0.14). Caregiving status was not significantly associated with the remaining indicators of views on aging. Age moderated only the association between caregiving status and felt age, such that the association between caregiving and feeling older was stronger among older participants. Conclusions Family caregivers of people living with dementia across the adult lifespan may be at risk of more negative general and personal views on aging. Given the implications for caregiver well-being, support services should incorporate discussions of caregivers’ experiences, expectations, and beliefs about aging.