Associations of Caregiving Knowledge and Skills With Caregiver Burden, Psychological Well-Being, and Coping Styles Among Primary Family Caregivers of People Living With Schizophrenia in China.

Zonglei Zhou,Yu Yu,Tongxin Li,Rongsheng Luan,Ping Feng,Yao Wang,Jacob Kraemer Tebes

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.631420

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of clarity regarding the correlation of caregiving knowledge and skills with caregiving experiences of people living with schizophrenia (PLSs). To address this gap, this comprehensive study examines the relationships of caregiving knowledge and skills to the primary family caregiver's experiences of burden, psychological well-being (stress, anxiety, depression, caregiving rewarding feelings), and coping styles in China.Methods: A total of 395 primary family caregivers of PLSs were enrolled in a cross-sectional study between May 2019 and September 2019. Each family caregiver was independently assessed on caregiving knowledge and skills, caregiver burden, and psychological well-being, as well as coping styles.Results: A higher level of caregiving knowledge and skills was positively correlated with less stress (b = −0.48, P < 0.001), anxiety (b = −0.23, P = 0.029), depression (b = −0.29, P = 0.013), and more caregiving rewarding feelings (b = 0.54, P < 0.001). Also, caregivers with more knowledge and skills were more inclined to adopt positive coping strategies (b = 0.44, P < 0.001). Despite these differences, caregivers with different levels of caregiving knowledge and skills reported comparable caregiver burden (b = 0.11, P = 0.705) and the use of a passive coping style (b = 0.10, P = 0.169).Conclusion: Caregiving knowledge and skills are a reliable predictor of psychological well-being and active coping among the primary family caregivers of PLSs. These findings inform the development of psychoeducational interventions to support family caregivers of PLSs.

Highlights

With a prevalence of 1–3% worldwide [1], schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by profound disturbance in language, perception, thinking, and frequent psychotic experiences [2]
For each person living with schizophrenia, only one primary family caregiver was enrolled in this study based on closeness with PLSs and direct involvement in caregiving
No relationship was found between caregiving knowledge and skills and caregiver burden, caregiving knowledge and skills were negatively associated with stress, anxiety, and depression and positively associated with caregiving rewarding feelings

Summary

Introduction

With a prevalence of 1–3% worldwide [1], schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by profound disturbance in language, perception, thinking, and frequent psychotic experiences [2]. People living with schizophrenia (PLSs) are characterized by positive symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations [3]. PLSs usually have reduced life expectancy in comparison with individuals from the general population [11] This disorder afflicts both PLSs and their family caregivers [12], in countries with insufficient mental health resources and community health service systems [13]. There is a lack of clarity regarding the correlation of caregiving knowledge and skills with caregiving experiences of people living with schizophrenia (PLSs) To address this gap, this comprehensive study examines the relationships of caregiving knowledge and skills to the primary family caregiver’s experiences of burden, psychological well-being (stress, anxiety, depression, caregiving rewarding feelings), and coping styles in China

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion