Table 1 Family caregiver characteristics for the whole sample (n = 232) and separated for gender (N = 229)

Age (M, SD, Range)

55.5 (14.8); 20–88

54.7 (15.3); 20–86

55.8 (14.6); 21–88

.605 ^a

Relationship to the patient. Patient is…

Spouse/partner

148 (63.8)

54 (68.4)

91 (60.7)

.073 ^b

Parent

61 (26.3)

20 (25.3)

41 (27.3)

Child

5 (2.2)

0 (0.0)

5 (3.3)

Sister/brother

7 (3.0)

0 (0.0)

7 (4.7)

Friend

5 (2.2)

1 (1.3)

4 (2.7)

Other

6 (2.6)

4 (5.1)

2 (1.3)

Marital status

Single

36 (15.5)

14 (17.7)

22 (14.7)

.376 ^b

Married

164 (70.7)

58 (73.4)

104 (69.3)

Divorced

22 (9.5)

4 (5.1)

17 (12.0)

Widowed

7 (3.0)

2 (2.5)

5 (3.3)

Missing

3 (1.3)

1 (1.3)

1 (0.7)

Having Children

Yes

164 (70.7)

52 (65.8)

111 (74.0)

.121 ^c

No

24 (27.6)

27 (34.2)

36 (24.0)

Missing

4 (1.7)

0 (0.0)

3 (2.0)

Religious confession

Yes

153 (65.9)

48 (60.8)

103 (68.7)

.221 ^c

No

75 (32.3)

30 (38.0)

45 (30.0)

Missing

4 (1.7)

1 (1.3)

2 (1.3)

Migrant background

None

212 (91.4)

71 (89.9)

139 (92.7)

.715 ^b

First generation

15 (6.5)

6 (7.6)

8 (5.3)

Second generation

5 (2.2)

2 (2.5)

3 (2.0)

Educational level

Elementary school (≤ 9 years)

65 (28.0)

25 (31.6)

38 (25.3)

.469 ^c

Junior high school (10 years)

72 (31.0)

21 (26.6)

50 (33.3)

High school (12–13 years)

91 (39.2)

31 (39.2)

60 (40.0)

Missing

4 (1.7)

2 (2.5)

2 (1.3)

Working situation

Currently employed

123 (53.0)

45 (57.0)

77 (51.3)

.222 ^c

Retired

73 (31.5)

25 (31.6)

46 (30.7)

Currently not employed for other reasons than retirement

26 (11.2)

5 (6.3)

21 (14.0)

Missing

10 (4.3)

4 (5.1)

6 (4.0)

Socio-economic status

Low

44 (19.0)

13 (16.5)

29 (19.9)

.818 ^c

Middle

111 (47.8)

40 (50.6)

70 (46.7)

High

73 (31.5)

26 (32.9)

47 (31.3)

Missing

4 (1.7)

0 (0.0)

4 (2.7)

Social support

Poor

43 (18.5)

15 (19.0)

27 (18.0)

.397 ^c

Moderate

90 (38.8)

35 (44.3)

54 (36.2)

Strong

98 (42.2)

29 (36.7)

68 (45.6)

Missing

1 (0.4)

0 (0.0)

1 (0.7)