Difficult lives: A descriptive and relational study on the coping with stress and care burden of caregivers of patients with epilepsy

Abstract

AimThis study was conducted to examine the relationship between coping with stress status and the burden of care of the caregivers of patients with epilepsy. Materials and methodsThis descriptive correlational study was carried out with a total of 230 voluntary caregivers of patients with epilepsy who visited the neurology clinics and outpatient clinics of a training and research hospital in the southeastern part of Turkiye between March 2022 and February 2023. Study data were collected through the Personal Information Form, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Assessment and the Ways of Coping Scale. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used for the evaluation of the data. FindingsWhile the mean score of the caregivers from the Zarit Caregiver Burden Assessment was 41.20 ± 12.44, they had mean scores of 12.12 ± 3.25, 8.93 ± 1.93, 12.24 ± 3.61, 8.77 ± 3.17, and 7.89 ± 1.95, respectively, from the self-confident approach, optimistic approach, helpless approach, submissive approach, and social support-seeking approach sub-dimensions. In the study, a moderate positive statistically significant relationship was found between the caregivers' burden of care and the mean scores of the helpless and submissive approach sub-dimensions(p < 0.05). ConclusionThe caregivers' burden of care and coping with stress were at moderate levels. The helpless approach, which is one of the ineffective methods of coping with stress, was found to be higher. The helpless and submissive approaches were found to increase in this study as the caregivers' burden of care increased. ImplicationsThe use of effective coping skills to reduce the level of personal burden of care would improve the caregiver's physical health and psychological well-being.