Changes in Caregivers Lifestyle after Severe Acquired Brain Injury: A Preliminary Investigation

Table 1

Socio-demographic characteristics of caregivers.

Characteristics	Primary caregivers	Secondary caregivers	Test	P
Mean age (years)	50.6	45.7	t = -2.6001	p<0.01
Gender
Male	111	35	χ^2 = 0.0000	n.s.
	(42.2%)	(42.2%)
Female	152	48
	(57.8%)	(57.8%)
Education
Primary school	14	3	χ^2 = 15.3470	p<0.01
	(5.3%)	(3.6%)
Lower secondary school	62	11
	(23.7%)	(13.1%)
High school	137	40
	(52.3%)	(47.6%)
Bachelor’s degree	20	7
	(7.6%)	(8.3%)
Master’s degree	29	23
	(11.1%)	(27.4%)
Profession
Full-time job	121	56	χ^2 = 12.4224	p<0.05
	(46.0%)	(66.6%)
Unemployed	19	4
	(7.2%)	(4.8%)
Student	12	4
	(4.6%)	(4.8%)
Retired	59	12
	(22.4%)	(14.2%)
Housewife	35	4
	(13.3%)	(4.8%)
Other	17	4
	(6.5%)	(4.8%)
Relationship
Mother	60	13	χ^2 = 16.5101	p<0.05
	(26.0%)	(15.7%)
Father	33	11
	(12.6%)	(13.3%)
Siblings	31	19
	(11.8%)	(22.9%)
Wife	30	6
	(11.5%)	(7.2%)
Husband	29	5
	(11.1%)	(6.0%)
Cohabitant	14	2
	(5.3%)	(2.4%)
Offspring	40	22
	(15.3%)	(26.5%)
Other	17	5
	(6.5%)	(6.0%)
Relationship as defined by caregivers
Very formal	3	3	χ^2 = 4.0529	n.s.
	(1.1%)	(3.6%)
Formal enough	4	0
	(1.5%)	(0.0%)
Neither close, nor superficial	7	1
	(2.7%)	(1.2%)
Close enough	53	17
	(20.2%)	(20.2%)
Very close	196	63
	(74.5%)	(75.0%)