Health behaviors and outcomes among adult family members of children with disabilities: How do they compare with those of other adults?

Background: Few researchers have studied the physical health of adult family members  living with a child having a disability. No study has employed a nationally representative sample to explore the physical health of such adults in the U.S.

Objective: To compare the adjusted prevalence of selected physical health outcomes and behaviors—alcohol use, smoking, physical activity, and adequate sleep—in adults living with children with and without a disability.

Methods: Children with a disability were defined based on 2013 National Health Interview Survey data as children experiencing any limitations due to a chronic condition.  Two populations were compared: adult family members of children with a disability (n=1,398) and without a disability (n=9,357).

Results: Two health behaviors differed significantly between adult family members of children with and without a disability: adults living with children with a disability were less likely to engage in physical activity (OR= .78) and get adequate sleep (OR= .76). Such adults also exhibited a significantly greater prevalence of various chronic physical conditions, including hypertension (OR=1.4), heart disease (OR=1.9), and diabetes (OR=1.6), as well as a significantly greater number of physical problems, including joint-related symptoms (OR=1.7), arthritis (OR=1.8), back pain (OR=1.5), headache/migraine (OR=1.7), head/chest cold (OR=1.3), intestinal problems (OR=1.8), and functional limitations (OR=1.6).    

Conclusion: Findings suggest that adult family members living with a child having a disability are less likely to be engaged in health-promoting behaviors even though they tend to have poor physical health outcomes. National policies are needed to improve the physical health of such adults.