TY - JOUR
T1 - What are the Challenges and Resilience Resources Identified by Informal Carers During the First UK COVID-19 Lockdown? A Longitudinal Qualitative Study Using Naturalistic Data
AU - Donnellan, Warren J.
AU - Sepulveda Garcia, Lily
AU - Gibson, Sarah M.
AU - Butcher, Paige
AU - Lariviere, Matthew J.
N1 - Funding information: This project was supported by A Social Sciences Platform for Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and transformation (ASPECT), the Economic and Social Research Council (Ref. ES/S002049/1), and the University of Sheffield.
PY - 2023/2/1
Y1 - 2023/2/1
N2 - COVID-19 has posed serious challenges for informal carers living in the UK. This article examines some of the specific challenges facing carers and the resources they used to manage them throughout the first UK lockdown. We used a framework approach to analyse naturalistic, longitudinal data from 30 carers taking part in 96 of Mobilise’s daily Virtual Cuppas between March and July 2020. We found that lack of information and social restrictions cumulatively impacted carers’ sense of certainty, control and motivation. This took an emotional toll on the carers, leading to exhaustion and burden. However, carers quickly established new routines and used humour and self-care to actively manage their wellbeing. Carers received support but also provided it to those in need, including fellow members of the caregiving community, supporting an ecological approach to carer resilience. Our findings may be used to anticipate challenges and promote protective resilience resources in future lockdowns.
AB - COVID-19 has posed serious challenges for informal carers living in the UK. This article examines some of the specific challenges facing carers and the resources they used to manage them throughout the first UK lockdown. We used a framework approach to analyse naturalistic, longitudinal data from 30 carers taking part in 96 of Mobilise’s daily Virtual Cuppas between March and July 2020. We found that lack of information and social restrictions cumulatively impacted carers’ sense of certainty, control and motivation. This took an emotional toll on the carers, leading to exhaustion and burden. However, carers quickly established new routines and used humour and self-care to actively manage their wellbeing. Carers received support but also provided it to those in need, including fellow members of the caregiving community, supporting an ecological approach to carer resilience. Our findings may be used to anticipate challenges and promote protective resilience resources in future lockdowns.
KW - COVID-19
KW - caring
KW - challenges
KW - longitudinal
KW - qualitative
KW - resilience
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/69ecb18f-44d5-3a02-bd86-cc9ccf358ea6/
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147431737&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/10497323221150131
DO - 10.1177/10497323221150131
M3 - Article
C2 - 36702851
SN - 1049-7323
VL - 33
SP - 236
EP - 246
JO - Qualitative Health Research
JF - Qualitative Health Research
IS - 3
ER -