Table 1 Demographic and caring characteristics of participants
Characteristic | N | % |
|---|---|---|
Age (mean(SD) range) | 66.1 (10.1) | 48–85 |
Gender | ||
 Female | 26 | 83.9 |
Employment status | ||
 Employed full or part time | 5 | 16.6 |
 Performing unpaid work | 6 | 20 |
 Not currently employed- not seeking employment | 19 | 63.4 |
Highest education level | ||
 Completed Higher School Certificate or less | 15 | 48.3 |
 Certificate/diploma/university degree or higher | 16 | 51.7 |
Marital status | ||
 Married or living together in a relationship | 18 | 58.1 |
 Divorced/separated | 8 | 25.8 |
 Widowed | 5 | 16.1 |
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin | ||
 No | 30 | 96.8 |
 Unsure | 1 | 3.2 |
Relationship to person with a mental illness | ||
 Parent | 27 | 87.1 |
 Partner | 2 | 6.5 |
 Child | 1 | 3.2 |
 Sibling | 1 | 3.2 |
Years in caring role | ||
 Less than 1 year | 1 | 3.2 |
 1–2 years | 0 | 0 |
 3–10 years | 8 | 25.8 |
 11–20 years | 9 | 29.1 |
 More than 20 years | 13 | 41.9 |
Hours per week in caring role | ||
 Less than 10 h | 11 | 35.4 |
 11–37 h | 12 | 38.8 |
 38 h or more | 8 | 25.8 |
Residing with person with a mental illness | ||
 Yes | 12 | 38.7 |
 No | 15 | 48.4 |
 Sometimes | 4 | 12.9 |