Self-Perceived Health, Comorbidity, and Burden Among Older Family Caregivers of Seniors with Severe Mental Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

The global aging process has increased the number of older individuals providing care for relatives with severe mental disorders (SMD). This population faces unique health challenges. The present cross-sectional study examined the relationship between self-perceived health (SPH) and clinical, functional, and sociodemographic variables among 71 older caregivers (median age: 65 years) in Bogotá, Colombia. SPH was assessed by answering the question: “How would you describe your overall health status?” and dichotomized into good versus poor perception. Comorbidity was measured as the number of self-reported chronic conditions. Caregiver burden was evaluated using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the SF-36, including dimensions such as physical functioning, emotional well-being, bodily pain, and general health. Descriptive analyses, non-parametric comparisons, and logistic regression models were conducted. The results revealed a marked feminization of caregiving (92.96%) and a high prevalence of good SPH (70.42%), despite a substantial burden of physical comorbidities (mean: 3.21). Dimensions such as physical functioning, emotional well-being, and pain were significant in univariate analyses. However, the multivariate model identified general health as the only independent predictor of good SPH (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.112; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.053–1.174; p < 0.001). These findings suggest that subjective health assessment may transcend objective disease counts for older caregivers. Public health policies could prioritize wellness-based interventions and emotional support over traditional disease-centered approaches to improve the quality of life of this growing, active, socially valuable, yet vulnerable population.