Factors associated with mental health outcomes among family caregivers to adults with COVID: a scoping review

James David Sessford; Alison Dodwell; Katarina Elms; Monique Gill; Meera Premnazeer; Orianna Scali; Michelle Roque; Jill I Cameron

doi:10.1080/09638288.2025.2494223

Factors associated with mental health outcomes among family caregivers to adults with COVID: a scoping review

Disabil Rehabil. 2025 Apr 28:1-18. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2494223. Online ahead of print.

Authors

James David Sessford^{1

2}, Alison Dodwell¹, Katarina Elms¹, Monique Gill^{1

2}, Meera Premnazeer^{1

2}, Orianna Scali^{1

2}, Michelle Roque³, Jill I Cameron^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canda.
² Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
³ Faculty of Science, School of Interdisciplinary Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.

PMID: 40294910
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2494223

Abstract

Purpose: Family caregivers (FCGs) are essential to the health and wellbeing of people affected by COVID. Protecting mental health of FCGs is essential to sustaining their caregiving role. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesise identified risks factors and protective factors for mental health of FCGs to adults with COVID.

Materials and methods: Using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, the search was conducted across Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Original studies conducted since the pandemic began were included. The population was adult FCGs to adults with COVID, and studies reported mental health outcomes and related factors.

Results: Of 3474 identified articles, 22 met inclusion criteria (14 quantitative, seven qualitative, one mixed-methods, 18/22 conducted in Iran). Across all study designs, risk factors included limited support, financial burden, family challenges, unpredictable nature of COVID, inexperience, isolation, and unpleasant experiences. Protective factors included accessing support services, self-reinforcement, coping strategies, professional help, and online intervention.

Conclusions: Quantitative and qualitative research identified common mental health risk factors and protective factors for FCGs to adults with COVID. These factors may inform development of supports and services for FCGs to people with COVID, such as online interventions. Studies did not distinguish acute versus long COVID.

Keywords: COVID; Family caregivers; adults; mental health; protective factors; risks.

Plain language summary

Family caregivers are unpaid, integral members of healthcare teams who often experience a wide range of negative mental health outcomes.Family caregivers to adults with COVID experience many of the same mental health outcomes and risk factors as other caregiving populations.Additional and novel risk factors, specific to COVID caregiving, included limited knowledge related to managing this novel virus and the duration of infection.This scoping review suggests that protective factors for this clinical subpopulation of family caregivers may be bolstered by online interventions including education, mindfulness, and stress management.