The Mental Health and Wellbeing of Unpaid Caregivers: An Intersectionality-Informed Study

We searched the published literature from 2003-2020 in a previous CIHR Operating-Knowledge Synthesis Grant: COVID-19 Rapid Research, aimed to describe the mental health and wellbeing of family caregivers during coronavirus outbreaks using rapid integrated mixed methods systematic review methods. We identified 139 papers, 7 (5%) were from Canada; 38 (27%) of the 139 studies reported race and ethnicity, only one was conducted in Canada and 95% of the participants were White. We currently have 440/525 (83.8%) surveys collected in a second CIHR-funded project grant (Fall 2021/Spring 2022) titled 'The Mental Health and Wellbeing of Unpaid Caregivers: An Intersectionality-Informed Study'. Using the concept of intersectionality, the logic model of the Caregiver Support Framework, The Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Capacity Development Framework and the SPOR Patient Engagement Framework we aim to describe the experiences, outcomes and processes related to unpaid caregiving in Canada so that relevant caregiver policies/guidelines, supports and interventions can be developed. Specific objectives of this Phase 1 study are to: 1) describe the intersections of race and ethnicity, sex, age, and gender to fair/poor and good/excellent wellbeing in unpaid caregivers living in Canada. This research project will provide opportunities for recruitment in the 3 largest immigrant populations in Canada: South Asian, Black, and Chinese communities. There will be opportunities to learn about patient engagement/patient-oriented research, data management, an intersectionality approach to data analyses, and knowledge dissemination. Moreover, there will be opportunity to learn firsthand about submitting to the CIHR project grant Fall competition for Phases 2 and 3.