Objective:

Determine the association between Adoption of the caregiver role and loneliness in family caregivers of people with chronic illness.

Method:

Cross-sectional analytical study. Population 161,760 caregivers, sample 390 caregivers with inclusion criteria of legal age, with more than 3 months dedicated to care. Two instruments were applied: loneliness, University of California at Los Angeles, and Adoption of the role of family caregiver for chronic patients.

Main results:

Female caregivers predominated 59%, aged 32-45 (34%), single 36%, employed in informal jobs 40%, loneliness was statistically significant with the adoption of the caregiver role (OR 1.32), 57% presented a moderate-severe degree of loneliness and the caregiver role was rated as insufficient in the caregivers studied.

Main conclusion:

Caregivers of patients with chronic illness show a prevalence of moderate loneliness, as measured by the UCLA scale, which makes it necessary to promote support networks that address both the chronic patient and their family caregiver.