COVID-19 and Women's Health: A Panel Survey on the Perceptions of Family Caregiving among Middle-aged Korean Women

Abstract

Background COVID-19 has significantly impacted society, economy, and health, altering family roles and caregiving concepts. Middle-aged women bear the responsibility of managing family health, educating children, and caring for the elderly. The pandemic has brought considerable changes to these roles. This study used data from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (KLoWF). Objective This study identifies factors that influence the perceptions of family caregiving among middle-aged Korean women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data from the 8th wave of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women & Families (KLoWF) for the year 2020, provided by the Korean Women's Development Institute, was used. The samples consisted of 1,120 middle-aged women between the ages of 45 and 65. Variables included general characteristics, changes in women's lives due to COVID-19, family roles, and perceptions of family caregiving. The data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, post-hoc analysis with Scheffé's test, Pearson correlation to examine relationships between variables, and hierarchical regression to identify factors influencing perceptions of family caregiving. Results The hierarchical regression model indicated that the factors influencing the perceptions of family caregiving among middle-aged women were age, changes in women's lives due to the pandemic, and family roles, with an explanatory power of 24.7%. Conclusion This study revealed changes in the patterns of family and caregiving roles among Korean middle-aged women during the COVID-19 era, providing foundational data for future studies on the life perceptions of Korean middle-aged women, proactive health management practices among women, and the development of sociodemographic policies.