Table 1 Characteristics of informal carers and care recipients

Entire included population

(N = 4033)

Needed respite

(N = 1079)

Did not need respite

(N = 2954)

Test of independence

p-value^e

 Very good and good

62

49

67

0.000

 Fair, bad and very bad

38

51

33

  < 1800€

29

29

29

0.721

  ≥ 1800€

71

71

71

 Single

19

19

19

0.709

 Married

66

66

65

 Divorced or Widowed

15

15

15

Mean age (SD)

61 (14)

63 (13)

60 (14)

0.000 ^f

 Female

61

67

59

0.000

 Male

39

33

41

Cohabitation %

41

56

35

0.000

 Partner by marriage

28

37

25

0.000

 Child^c

54

52

55

 Family member

13

10

14

 Close acquaintance

5

1

6

Care for other persons

21

22

21

0.351

Replacement in case of unavailability

77

68

81

0.000

  < 1 year

4

5

4

 1–5 years

38

37

39

0.484

  ≥ 5 years

58

58

57

  < 30 h

45

20

54

 30 h–60 h

17

16

17

0.000

 60 h–150 h

21

29

18

  > 150 h

17

34

11

HSCI^g, mean (range)

0.21(−1.5 to 5.9)

1.7(−1.4 to 5.9)

−0.34(−1.5 to 5.9)

0.000^f

Stress and anxiety %

36

60

26

0.000

Back problems %

24

43

16

0.000

Physical exhaustion %

33

63

22

0.000

Sleep disorders %

23

43

15

0.000

Feeling of loneliness %

41

67

32

0.000

Problem of lack of time %

35

79

18

0.000

Need for respite %

27

–

–

–

Use of support group %

4

6

3

0.000

Use of training %

11

20

8

0.000

  Very good and good

15

8

18

  Fair, bad and very bad

85

92

82

0.000

 Mean age (SD)

81(9)

81(10)

81(9)

0.09^f

  Female

68

63

70

0.000

  Male

32

37

30

  One disease or less

33

31

33

0.094

  More than one disease

67

69

67

  At least one %

20

20

21

0.792

  Number (0–6), mean (SD)

0.47(1.15)

0.47(1.17)

0.48(1.14)

0.937^f

  At least one %

68

67

69

0.314

  Number (0–7), mean (SD)

1.8(1.9)

1.8(1.9)

1.8(1.7)

0.998

 MHI-5, mean (SD)

66(22)

67(21)

66(22)

0.213

 Use of formal (professional) care

35

35

35

0.983