Table 2 QOL Scores in characteristics of the older adults and their caregivers and objective caring loads

Caregivers’ demographic characteristics

Gender

Male

74.09 ± 17.10

65.59 ± 15.98

Female

72.27 ± 17.44

63.35 ± 17.74*

Age (years old)

≤ 40

74.17 ± 16.12

63.85 ± 16.46

41-49

72.52 ± 15.88

63.54 ± 16.01

≥ 50

71.89 ± 20.47

65.83 ± 19.17

Marital status

Married

72.87 ± 17.46

64.51 ± 17.19

Others

73.87 ± 16.41

62.61 ± 16.22

Educational level

< Senior middle school

69.82 ± 18.04**

62.41 ± 16.92**

≥ Senior middle school

75.61 ± 16.22

65.62 ± 17.04

Monthly household income of caregivers(Yuan)

< 1000

65.70 ± 18.29**

58.67 ± 17.41**

1000-1999

72.40 ± 18.98*

64.13 ± 17.41

2000-2999

73.13 ± 16.95*

63.96 ± 16.84

≥ 3000

76.67 ± 14.57

67.12 ± 16.25

Chronic diseases

No

76.12 ± 16.69**

65.84 ± 16.61**

Yes

71.25 ± 17.43

63.36 ± 17.28

Living with the elderly

Yes

72.51 ± 17.50

63.35 ± 17.38

No

73.00 ± 17.32

64.70 ± 16.78

Relationship to the patient

Spouse

68.24 ± 20.65**

62.38 ± 18.14

Daughter

72.50 ± 17.12

63.72 ± 18.21

Son

75.70 ± 15.75

65.99 ± 16.01

Daughter in law

73.33 ± 15.64

65.26 ± 15.77

Others

71.87 ± 18.47

63.33 ± 17.01

Caregiving in assistance for daily living

Not at all

78.31 ± 14.07

69.31 ± 16.97

Occasionally

74.82 ± 16.18*

65.73 ± 16.27**

Frequently

65.13 ± 18.70**

57.71 ± 16.54***

Always

72.09 ± 18.66*

62.51 ± 17.63*

Caregiving in assistance for housekeeping

Not at all

77.83 ± 14.77

70.16 ± 16.65

Occasionally

76.31 ± 15.79

66.44 ± 16.35*

Frequently

67.23 ± 17.46**

60.24 ± 16.44**

Always

70.55 ± 19.40*

60.93 ± 18.11**

Caregiving in assistance for transportation

Not at all

77.41 ± 15.84

69.30 ± 17.55

Occasionally

73.09 ± 16.52**

63.82 ± 15.89**

Frequently

71.59 ± 17.56**

63.68 ± 16.99**

Always

70.58 ± 19.34**

60.96 ± 18.41**

Not at all

Caregiving in assistance for health care

79.53 ± 14.87

69.73 ± 17.80

Not at all

73.38 ± 16.07*

64.70 ± 15.99*

Occasionally

68.64 ± 18.28**

60.28 ± 16.65**

Frequently

71.73 ± 19.58**

62.81 ± 18.36**

Numbers of caregivers

1

72.64 ± 18.88

65.96 ± 17.29

2

73.62 ± 16.34

64.08 ± 16.85

3

74.51 ± 16.52

65.09 ± 18.21

≥4

70.22 ± 18.04*

62.02 ± 15.83

Currently employed

no

68.02 ± 19.13**

60.46 ± 18.03**

yes

75.31 ± 15.96

65.94 ± 16.32

Time spent in caregiving everyday

<4h

75.72 ± 16.13

66.64 ± 16.29

5-6h

66.06 ± 17.01*

57.88 ± 16.22*

7-8h

68.97 ± 18.60*

60.78 ± 16.54*

9-24h

63.67 ± 19.28**

55.00 ± 20.33**

Time spent in caregiving everyday

73.67 ± 19.28*

65.00 ± 20.33*

Care duration (years)

≤1

73.48 ± 16.64

65.14 ± 17.41

1-4

72.73 ± 16.75

63.31 ± 17.01

≥4

72.92 ± 18.38

64.52 ± 16.87

The elderly’ characteristics

Gender

Male

73.28 ± 17.19

63.87 ± 16.83

Female

72.66 ± 17.49

64.74 ± 17.37

Age

60-69

74.93 ± 16.91

65.29 ± 17.54

70-79

72.14 ± 17.28*

63.44 ± 16.21

≥80

71.05 ± 17.83**

63.83 ± 17.64

Marital status

Married

73.96 ± 17.47

65.37 ± 16.98

Others

71.71 ± 17.07*

62.77 ± 17.13*

Educational level

<Junior middle school

72.35 ± 17.25

64.36 ± 16.90

≥Junior middle school

73.67 ± 17.32

64.22 ± 17.25

Income level of the elderly(yuan)

<1000元

70.30 ± 17.69**

62.76 ± 17.48

1000-1999

73.98 ± 17.06*

64.06 ± 16.22

2000-2999

74.45 ± 17.10

65.55 ± 17.47

≥3000

74.05 ± 17.13

65.29 ± 16.99

Number of chronic diseases

1.00

74.71 ± 16.89

65.80 ± 16.75

2.00

72.52 ± 16.50*

64.22 ± 17.01

≥3.00

68.93 ± 18.74**

60.04 ± 17.39**

ADL

<26

77.39 ± 15.75

67.95 ± 16.60

≥26

69.73 ± 17.72**

61.46 ± 16.90**