The relationship between the care burden and quality of life of parents who have children with hematological problems and their perceived social support

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the interrelationship of the caregiver burden, perceived social support, and quality of life of parents who have children with hematological problems. Design and methodsThe design and methods included a descriptive study with 141 parents of children with hematological problems. The introductory information form, the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and the EUROHIS-QOL.8 (WHOQOL-8) scale were used as data collection tools. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation models. ResultsAs a result of the conducted correlation analysis, it was determined that there was a positive correlation between parents' perceptions of social support and their quality of life, and a negative correlation between their perceptions of social support and the caregiver burden (p < 0.05). As a result of the structural equation model, it was determined that the social support received by the parents had a significant effect on their caregiver burden (β = −0.40; p < 0.05), and their quality of life (β = 0.42; p < 0.05). ConclusionsThe conclusion formed was that it can be said that parents' perceptions of social support affect their caregiver burden and quality of life. Parents with high perceptions of social support perceive the burden of caregiver to be low and their quality of life to be high. Practice implicationsThe practice implications are that healthcare professionals can contribute to reducing the caregiver burden and improving the quality of life of parents, by strengthening the social support systems of parents with sick children.