Caregiving can be hazardous for health, study finds

Caregiving can be hazardous for health according to a new study which found that parents of children with developmental disabilities have higher blood pressure than parents of normally developing children.

A lack of social support is a likely contributory factor in explaining the high blood pressure among these parents, according to one of the study’s authors, Dr Stephen Gallagher.

Dr Gallagher, who is based at the centre for social issues in the University of Limerick, said although some parents “cope very well and derive great benefit from their caring role”, “others struggle physically, psychologically, and socially”.