Burden Scale For Family Caregivers Research Articles

Ambivalent ageism and the pains and gains of informal caregiving for older adults: Findings from Germany

Background and ObjectivesWe analyzed the associations between ambivalent ageism, burden and positive experiences of care among informal caregivers of older adults (aged ≥60 years), to advance understanding of its role as psychosocial risk or resilience factor for informal caregivers. Design and MethodsData of 433 informal caregivers (≥18 years) of adults with care needs (≥60 years) from the Attitudes towards Informal Caregivers (ATTIC) project was used. The Ambivalent Ageism Scale, Positive Aspects of Care Scale and the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers were used. Linear regression analyses adjusted for context and personal factors were conducted, with age and gender included as moderators in additional tests. ResultsHigh ageism (total score) was significantly associated with a high level of positive aspects of care and burden. Further analyses showed a significant positive association between benevolent ageism and positive aspects of care, while stronger hostile ageism was associated with less positive aspects of care. Hostile ageism was also significantly associated with more burden, while benevolent ageism and burden were not associated. Additional analyses indicated no moderation by gender, but by age. The association between hostile ageism and burden was weaker with caregivers’ higher age. Discussion and ImplicationsWhile hostile ageism and worse caregiver burden were associated, positive care experiences seemed to benefit from benevolent ageism. This highlights the complex associations between ageism and caregivers’ well-being, which need to be taken into account in theory and practice focused on improving the care situation for both caregivers and care recipients.

Caregiver burden, attachment and cognitive emotion among the family caregivers of severe mental illness patients

BackgroundSerious mental illness (SMI) is a debilitating medical condition that causes stress and challenges for the family caregivers (FCs) of affected patients, increasing their caregiver burden (CB). This situation can activate attachment styles (AS) and trigger negative emotions, further contributing to CB. Given that AS and cognitive-emotional regulation (CER) can affect the CB of FCs of patients with SMI, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between CB with AS, and CER among the FCs.MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was carried out in May–November 2022. Participants were 278 FCs of patients with SMI consecutively recruited from Roozbeh leading psychiatric hospital, Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using a patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, an FCs’ demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Attachment Style Questionnaire, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, and were analyzed using the SPSS software (v. 16.0).ResultsCB had significant inverse relationship with secure AS (r = − 0.262) and significant positive relationship with fearful AS (r = 0.194) and dismissive AS (r = 0.242) (P < 0.01). Moreover, CB had significant inverse relationship with adaptive CER strategies and significant positive relationship with maladaptive CER strategies (P < 0.001). Regression analysis also showed that CB had significant relationship with secure AS and catastrophizing, rumination, self-blame, and positive refocusing CER strategies (P < 0.05).ConclusionThis study concludes that AS and CER can impact CB. There is a negative relationship between secure AS and CB, as well as between adaptive CER strategies and CB. Conversely, there is a positive relationship between avoidant AS and increased CB, as well as between maladaptive CER strategies and CB. It is recommended to adopt strategies that promote the use of secure AS and adaptive CER among the FCs of patients with SMI.

Translation and validation of the caregiving burden scale for family caregivers of children with cancer in chinese population

BackgroundEffective response and reducing the burden of family care for children with cancer is critical, and China currently lacks a specific assessment tool.AimsThis study aimed to translate and validate the Caregiving Burden Scale for Family Caregivers of Children with Cancer (CBSFC-CC) and then test and implement the tool.MethodsAccording to the Beaton cross-cultural debugging guide, preliminary Chinese version of CBSFC-CC scale was formed, which was suitable for Chinese language environment and clinical context. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed to verify structural validity. Convergent validity, discriminant validity and reliability were also conducted.ResultsA total of 529 family caregivers of children with cancer participated in the survey. EFA extracts and combines four factors and explained 65.80% of the total variation. CFA proved that all the goodness-of-fit indicators were acceptable. The Cronbach’s alpha of the Chinese version of CBSFC-CC was .96, and the test–retest reliability coefficient was .95. Four dimensions and 29 items were identified in the final Chinese version of CBSFC-CC.ConclusionThe chinese version CBSFC-CC is scientifically reasonable and has good reliability and validity, which can be applied to the investigation of the nursing burden of family caregivers of children with cancer in China.

Assessment of drug therapy satisfaction amongst the elderly: A patient reported outcomes measures approach

BackgroundUnderstanding elderly experiences enhance healthcare outcomes and patient satisfaction. Recognizing caregivers’ role and implementing supportive measures enhance care. ObjectivesQuantify drug satisfaction using patient-reported outcomes measures approach. Assess caregiver burden using short version of Burden Scale for Family Caregivers. MethodsSix-month cross-sectional study in Department of Geriatrics. Elderly (≥60), minimum one comorbidity, admitted for >48 h, and consenting to participate were enrolled. Patient satisfaction assessed using Treatment Satisfaction with Medicines Questionnaire (SATMED-Q). SPSS version 27 used to calculate odds ratio. Results282 participants enrolled. SATMED-Q score 47.41 ± 10.34, indicating overall satisfaction. Treatment satisfaction range 47.07 % to 100 %. Age [OR 0.964, 95 % CI 0.932–0.996 (p = 0.029)] and education [OR 1.500, 95 % CI 1.129–1.992 (p = 0.005)] influenced satisfaction. 268 [95.03 %] had caregivers, 14 [4.96 %] did not. Caregiver burden score 9.25 ± 9.11. ConclusionInsights obtained from assessing satisfaction and caregiver burden enables physicians to improve welfare of elderly and caregivers.

Mental health outcomes of family carers after admission to aged care: A cross-sectional survey study.

This study investigated the predictors of poor mental health outcomes among family carers of residents after transitioning into residential aged care. Using a cross-sectional design, five groups of variables were evaluated as predictors: caregiver demographics; caregiving load; resident-related variables; loneliness and visiting frequency; and the impact of the COVID-19 context. A total of 309 primary family contacts of all residents of two residential aged care organisations in the state of Victoria (Australia) participated in the study (response rate 19%). The K-10 and the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers were used to measure the primary outcomes. We compared psychological distress and burden outcomes between carers whose relative was admitted within the last 12 months, or longer than 12 months ago. Time since admission (<12 months or >12 months) did not affect the level of psychological distress (t (238) = -.08, p = .94) or subjective burden (t (245) = -.89, p = .38). Being a woman, a spouse, speaking a language other than English at home, being less satisfied with the support offered by the facility, not feeling supported in the decision to admit their relative, being lonely and providing higher levels of care preadmission were predictors of poor mental health outcomes. Older women with low-English proficiency who were primary carers and are socially isolated, are more likely to experience poor mental health outcomes and need additional support. These findings may inform the development of screening tools and tailored interventions to support this population during and after the transition process.

The mediating role of coping strategies between caregiving burden and pre-death grief among Chinese adult-child caregivers of dementia patients.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between caregiving burden and pre-death grief, with a specific focus on adult-child caregivers in mainland China. Additionally, the study explored whether coping strategies played a mediating role in this correlation. A convenience sample of 320 adult-child caregivers of older parents with dementia from Kunming, mainland China, was recruited for the study. Data were collected using the Chinese version of the Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory-Short Form, the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, and the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised. Results using linear regression and multiple mediation analysis with Hayes' process model indicated that caregiving burden was positively related to pre-death grief and that active coping mediated the relationship between them. In the female group, active coping partially mediated the association between caregiving burden and pre-death grief, but in the male group, this mediating effect did not exist. The study found evidence supporting the link between caregiving burden and pre-death grief among adult-child caregivers of older parents with dementia in mainland China. Furthermore, the caregiving burden prevented the use of active coping, and this decrease in coping increased the perception of pre-death grief. These associations only existed in the female group. This paper presented the importance of active coping skills in the dementia caregiving process. The findings of this study emphasize the necessity for health practitioners to provide targeted interventions regarding pre-death grief among dementia caregivers and strengthen caregivers' active coping strategies to reduce their pre-death grief. Community-based and personal care support services should be promoted to alleviate their caregiving burden. We have adhered to the transparent reporting of evaluations with quantitative design statements and the corresponding checklist was followed. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: 'No patient or public involvement'.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BARRIERS AND INTENTIONS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD) AND RELATED DEMENTIAS (AD/ADRD) CAREGIVERS

Abstract Caregivers of people living with AD/ADRD often experience negative biopsychosocial health outcomes and have reduced capacity to engage in healthy behaviors (e.g., exercise). Physical activity is an established intervention for promoting physical and mental health across many populations. This research explored physical activity intentions and barriers among AD/ADRD caregivers, as well as potential relationships between physical activity intentions, cohabitation status, and caregiver/care recipient relationship. Data were collected via online survey from family caregivers of people living with AD/ADRD (n=117). The sample was predominantly women (n=89; 76.1%), white (n= 89, 76.1%), and averaged 55.3 (SD= 16.45) years old. Participants averaged 56.31 (SD= 49.15) hours per week on care responsibilities. Caregivers expressed strong desire to be more active (M=4.42 / 5; SD= .71) and that caregiving demands were a strong barrier (M=3.85 / 5; SD= 1.15). Significant differences were observed between caregivers who lived, or did not live with, care recipients across both physical activity intention (p= .022) and burden perceptions (p=.002), measured by the short form Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (BSFC-SF). No differences were observed based on caregiver-care recipient relationship (e.g., parent, partner). Primary themes among open-ended responses to physical activity barriers included: lack of time and energy, inability to leave care recipient, and competing responsibilities. Our findings suggest a need for behavioral interventions to facilitate physical activity among AD/ADRD caregivers, particularly those who live with their care recipient. Social network interventions that leverage social connections to support caregivers may increase physical activity by reducing barriers associated with care responsibilities.

Extending Classroom Learning Borders

Through the provision of education and training, the Caregiver Training Workshop (CTW) pilot study aimed to advance knowledge about in-person educational interventions for primary family caregivers aiding ill adults (18 years of age and over) at home. The target population was community-dwelling chronic disease caregivers, fourteen of whom participated in the workshop/pilot study in September and October 2019. The sessions were offered once a week, over five weeks—each session lasting two hours. The goal of the CTW pilot study was to measure any relationship between caregiver burden levels and the study’s multi-component curriculum and course design, and to obtain participant feedback about the content and structure. Curricular topics were selected based on a review of the literature. The methodology selected was mixed-methods and convergent pretest–posttest design. Data was collected at three points in time. The pre-workshop data collection instruments consisted of the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (BSFC) in long form and a mixed demographics form. Post-workshop instruments consisted of the BSFC (second time) and open-ended questions evaluating the program. Three-months post workshop conclusion, the instruments consisted of the BSFC (final time) and a mixed questionnaire regarding the program’s impact. The reduction in caregiver burden was not statistically significant; however, burden scores from three of the 14 caregivers improved over the study period. Analyzing the qualitative data, as well as viewing caregiver burden through self-efficacy theory, offer insights as to why. Many caregivers expressed interest in maintaining contact with each other post workshop completion. This supports research indicating that some caregivers are interested in maintaining social connections throughout their care recipients’ illness trajectories.

A Study to assess the burden of care and Coping strategies among caregivers of mentally ill patients in selected hospital, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Burden of care refers to physical, psychological, social disturbances of the caregivers and coping strategies means, it is an effort of individual which will help them in overcoming of any problem while caring mentally ill patient. To assess the burden of care and Coping strategies among caregivers of mentally ill patients in selected hospital. Methodology: Descriptive research design was used in the study on total 140 caregivers were selected through convenience sampling technique. Data was collected by interview method for Socio-demographic variables, structured tool on Burden Scale for Family Caregivers and Coping Scale for Family Caregivers area in Psychiatry OPD and IPD of Himalayan Hospital, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Results: The study result showed that the burden of care among caregivers of mentally ill patients was high (53.6%) and the caregivers who were adopted sufficient coping strategies were (55.0%) and 45.0% caregivers of mentally ill patients were having less coping strategy to deal with burden of care while caring mentally ill patient. The result also showed that the mean Burden of care of family caregivers score was maximum in psychological (13.743.475), minimum in Sociological (7.982.306) and least in physiological domain (6.142.498). Result depicts that mean of coping strategies among caregivers score was maximum in psychological (22.063.571), minimum in physiological (12.731.340) and least in sociological (8.812.643). Conclusion: Study concluded that there is the presence of high burden among caregivers of mentally ill patients and they are using sufficient coping strategies.

Long-Term Outcome in Stroke: The Need of Individualized Follow-Up

Introduction: It is well established that in the long-term, many stroke patients potentially have relevant functional incapacity related to deficits in domains other than motor; the burden of unmet long-term needs likely varies between different types of stroke or different healthcare systems. On the other hand, we can say that the ideal length of follow-up in a specialized consultation after ischemic stroke has not been established. Methods: We evaluated long-term stroke patients who underwent endovascular treatment of anterior circulation in our stroke center and that were classified as “therapeutic success” (modified Rankin scale - mRS &lt;3) at 3 months, to participate in an observational, cross-sectional study. Participants underwent a comprehensive interview and examination using validated standard questionnaires for Portuguese population to assess different life aspects after stroke as Post-Stroke Checklist, EQ-5D-3L scale, mRS, Barthel Index (BI), Burden Scale for Family Caregivers and Hamilton scale. Results: We evaluated 36 patients. The mean age was 67.6 years old (±13,8) and the mean time for the interview was 52,8 (±9,9) months after the stroke. Most patients were independent, with a mean mRS of 1 (ranging from 0–3) and BI 95,4 (70-100). Sixty one percent had a clinically significant deficit in at least one domain. On the Post Stroke Checklist (PSC), 77,8% of participants demonstrated a not good perceived health status. EuroQoL index value was 0.750 (IQR 0.664–1.00). The two major disability parameters identified were in cognition (52,8%) and depression (27,8%). After review of the ongoing care by stroke specialists, in almost 2/3 of the patients, additional measures were proposed: additional etiological investigation (44%), physical or speech rehabilitation (~14%) or changes in pharmacological therapy (~3%). Conclusion: These results highlight the prevalence and importance of non-motor disabilities in long-term stroke patients, even after short-term classification as “therapeutic success”. We also point out that even after more than 3 years of the stroke, additional therapeutic or etiological investigation measures were taken, reinforcing the need for individualized follow-up, without a pre-defined maximum follow-up time in a specialized cerebrovascular pathology consultation.

Sleep quality, anxiety, symptoms of depression, and caregiver burden among those caring for patients with Dravet syndrome: a prospective multicenter study in Germany

BackgroundThis study measured sleep quality among caregivers of patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) and assessed the impacts of mental health problems and caregiver burden on sleep quality.MethodsThis multicenter, cross-sectional study of patients with DS and their caregivers throughout Germany consisted of a questionnaire and a prospective 4-week diary querying disease characteristics, demographic data, living conditions, nocturnal supervision, and caregivers’ work situations. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleeping Quality Index (PSQI). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (BSFC) were used to measure anxiety, symptoms of depression, and caregiver burden.ResultsOur analysis included 108 questionnaires and 82 four-week diaries. Patients with DS were 49.1% male (n = 53), with a mean age of 13.5 ± 10.0 years. Caregivers were 92.6% (n = 100) female, with a mean age of 44.7 ± 10.6 years. The overall mean PSQI score was 8.7 ± 3.5, with 76.9% of participants (n = 83) scoring 6 or higher, indicating abnormal sleep quality. The HADS for anxiety and depression had overall mean scores of 9.3 ± 4.3 and 7.9 ± 3.7, respectively; 61.8% and 50.9% of participants scored above the cutoff value of 8 for anxiety and depression, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed caregiver anxiety levels and patients’ sleep disturbances as major factors influencing PSQI scores. The overall mean BSFC score of 41.7 ± 11.7 indicates a moderate burden, with 45.3% of caregivers scoring 42 or higher.ConclusionsSleep quality is severely affected among caregivers of patients with DS, correlating with anxiety, comorbidities, and patients’ sleep disturbances. A holistic therapeutic approach should be implemented for patients with DS and their caregivers, focusing on the sleep quality and mental health of caregivers.Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), DRKS00016967. Registered 27 May 2019, http://www.drks.de/DRKS00016967

Caregiver burden among parents of children with chronic diseases: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to assess the perceived caregiver burden among parents of chronically ill children in Jordan. Although there are few studies on the accurate prevalence of chronic diseases among Jordanian children, there are a few on the burden of caregiving, which is important because most children with chronic illness rely on their caregivers to perform their daily tasks. In Jordan, little is known about the caregiver burden associated with caring for children with chronic diseases. A cross-sectional design was reported in line with the STROBE guidelines. The Katz Index of Independence was used to determine the children's level of dependence, and the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers was used to measure the caregivers' level of burden. Nearly, 49.3% of caregivers had a very severe burden, 31.2% of children had a severe functional impairment, 19.6% had a moderate impairment, and 49.3% had full functionality. Based on their children's dependency, caregivers' subjective burden varied greatly (p< .001). Fully functional children had a far lower disease burden than severely and moderately disabled children (p< .001). The caregiver burden score differed significantly across chronic disease categories (p< .001). Unemployed caregivers had a far higher subjective burden than working caregivers (p= .009), and single (divorced/widowed) caregivers had higher burdens than married caregivers. Various factors can increase caregiver burden. Therefore, healthcare providers must plan holistic and family-centred interventions to reduce the caregiving burden. There is a need to establish support programs to help reduce the level of burden among caregivers of children with chronic diseases.

Parental Stress, Familial Burden and Quality of Life in Parents of Children with Down Syndrome

The current study was conducted to explore the severity of parental stress, familial burden and how it effects on quality of life of those parents having children with Down Syndrome in Pakistan. Correlational research design was used to recruit the sample. The participants N= 110 (M=55; F=55) were recruited through purposive sampling from different institutes of special education and outpatient departments of psychiatry hospitals. Those who completed the inclusion criteria participated in the study by signing written informed consent. Parental Stress Scale (Berry &amp; Jones, 1995) was used to determine the stress level. Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (Grau et al., 2014) was used to analyze the burden severity, and Family Quality of Life Scale (Hoffman et al., 2006) was used to determine their effected life due to having children with Down Syndrome. The results found a negative relationship between parental stress (r=-.20, p &lt; .05), and familial burden against quality of life among parents having children with Down syndrome. Also, there is significant positive relationship among parental stress and familial burden (r = .37, p &lt; .001), that shows the parental stress increases with the increase in familial burden. However, independent samples t test showed fathers to have high stress and burden as compared to mothers. The study has implications in the field of clinical psychology. The results will be able to help practitioners to consider the proliferating factors of stress and burden among the parents of children having Down Syndrome.

EXERCISE BEHAVIOR IS DETERMINED BY PANDEMIC DISTRESS AND TASK BURDEN AMONG CAREGIVERS OF OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Background Caregivers who have dependents with dementia are at a much higher risk of heart disease and mental illnesses compared with non-dementia caregivers. Consequently, these outcomes have been exacerbated by societal barriers that resulted from the pandemic. Engaging in regular physical activity at a moderate-to-vigorous level (MVPA) is beneficial for caregivers has it has been shown to prevent several adverse health outcomes. However, pandemic-related (COVID-19) distress likely worsened caregiver burden which in turn compromised their MVPA levels. The purpose of this study was to understand how caregiving burden impacts MVPA when accounting for physical activity determinants from an augmented Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model. Methods Participants (n=127) were caregivers for older adults (65+) who have dementia. Participants completed measures of MVPA (behavior), TPB, pandemic-related distress (COVID Caregiver Risk Index) and burden scale for family caregivers. The study was investigated using a structural equation model. Results Participants were 45.5 (SD=3.4) years old, 76.4% female. Attitudes (β=.22, p=.012) and perceived behavioral control (β=.19, p&amp;lt;.001) predicted intention. Attitudes and perceived behavioral control mediated the relationship between past behavior and intention (β=.17, p=.02). Covid distress predicted caregiver burden (β=.35, p&amp;lt;.001), and caregiver burden mediated the effects between distress and behavior (β=-.12, p=.01). Conclusions Caregiver burden findings suggest that societal changes and demographic-specific burdens related to caregivers need to be considered for caregivers with dependents who have dementia. Taken together, exercise programs that focus on traditional behavioral determinants also need to include specific approaches to buffer caregiving burden experienced in this demographic.

Burden of informal caregivers of people without natural speech: a mixed-methods intervention study

BackgroundPeople with disabilities and without natural speech often rely on care provided by informal caregivers. The caregiving situation of these informal caregivers has been poorly researched. The objectives of the study are 1) to identify stressors, resources, and coping strategies among informal caregivers of people without natural speech and 2) to examine whether a complex intervention in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that is not primarily tailored to the needs of informal caregivers can reduce care-related burden.MethodsThe main components of the AAC intervention were (1) initial counselling session, (2) 4 AAC training sessions, (3) 20 AAC therapy sessions and (4) accompanying case management. The control group received only the initial counselling session. Within a quasi-experimental intervention study, survey data on self-perceived burden (Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, BSFC-s) from n = 154 informal caregivers of people without natural speech were collected at three time points between June 2018 and April 2021 from a postal survey. Qualitative interviews with n = 16 informal caregivers were conducted.ResultsCaregivers reported various stressors such as limited communication with the cared-for person and concerns about the living situation in adulthood. Diverse resources and effective coping strategies, which the caregivers refer to when dealing with stressors, could also be identified. Burden was significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control group. According to the results of the qualitative study, AAC use led to better communication skills and a reduction in behavioural problems and thus a decreased burden.ConclusionsThe AAC intervention seems to have a positive impact on self-perceived burden. Linkages between intervention components and burden reduction as well as stressors and coping strategies could be identified and provide an evidence-based foundation for developing future holistic interventions for families with individuals without natural speech.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS); ID: DRKS00013628 (registered on 05/02/2018).

Mental health in myasthenia gravis patients and its impact on caregiver burden

Psychiatric comorbidities are relevant in patients with Myasthenia gravis (MG). Also, MG patients experience a reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aimed to quantify the impact of depression as well as self-perceived MG severity on HRQoL and caregivers' burden. In this cross-sectional study, we used a survey encompassing demographic, disease-related information, and standardized questionnaires to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, HRQoL (MG Quality of Life scale; MG-QoL15), and caregiver burden (Burden Scale for Family Caregivers; BSFC). Data from 1399 participating patients (96%) and 1042 caregivers (65%) were eligible for further analysis. Symptoms of depression and anxiety disorder were indicated by 31% and 36% of patients. Self-reported MG severity (MG severity) and MG-QoL15 scores were strongly associated (estimated marginal means for severe versus mild MG severity = 18 95% CI [16; 21]; p ≤ 0.001). Adjusting for symptoms of depression decreased the estimated strength of this association (estimated marginal means for severe versus mild MG severity = 15 [13; 17]; p ≤ 0.001). Caregiver burden was associated to MG disease severity (estimated marginal means for severe vs. mild MG severity = 0.16 [0.13; 0,19); p ≤ 0.001) and also negatively influenced by symptoms of depression (estimated marginal means = 0.12 [0.09; 0.15]). Symptoms of depression and anxiety disorder in MG are frequent. Beyond MG severity, symptoms of depression have negative effects on HRQoL as well as on caregivers’ burden. Diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric comorbidities should be considered an important element in MG care. Screening tools for mental health conditions should be implemented at least in specialized MG centers.

Specific Characteristics And Behavioral Determinants Related To Caregivers Participation In Physical Activity

PURPOSE: The National Alliance for Caregiving report in 2020 revealed that family caregivers for dependents with dementia have increased from 18% to 26% and are in worse health since 2015. Specifically, caregivers are at a high risk of adverse mental and physical outcomes compared to non-dementia caregiver counterparts. Furthermore, these outcomes may have been exacerbated by societal barriers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Engaging in regular physical activity (PA) has been found to prevent poor health outcomes, but participation is likely impacted by burden and pandemic-related distress. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the burden of caregiving mediated the relationship between pandemic distress and participation in PA. METHODS: Participants (N = 127) were caregivers for dependents with dementia who completed measures on PA, burden scale for family caregivers, and pandemic-related distress (COVID Caregiver Risk Index). Participants also provided qualitative data to describe their PA barriers, which were coded using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants were 45.5 (SD = 3.4) years old, 76.4% female, and were engaging in 89.8 minutes (SD = 83.8) of PA/week. Themes from qualitative analyses revealed barriers of PA participation included limited capacity (n = 65), opportunity (n =34), and motivation (n = 13). Separate linear regressions found PA was predicted by pandemic-related distress (β = -.24, p = .006), and caregiver burden (β = -.35, p < .001). Testing these pathways in the mediation model revealed that caregiver burden mediated the relationship between COVID-19-related distress and PA, (β = -.12, S.E. = .038; 95% CI -.200, -.483), with the direct pathway between pandemic-related distress and PA no longer being significant, (β = -.11, p = .17). CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver burden was found to be a mediator of the relationship between pandemic-related distress and PA. Findings suggest that societal changes that affect public and population health could impact the burden of caregivers that further compromises their PA participation. Thematic analyses support undeveloped constructs related to the COM-B model. Taken together, PA interventions are warranted that empower caregivers’ capacity, opportunity, and motivation that might buffer experienced burden experienced in this demographic.

Impact of Culture, Spirituality, and Mental Health Attitudes on Intergenerational Asian-American Caregivers: A Pilot Study.

Asian-Americans are more likely than other ethnic groups to care for older family members and less likely to seek mental health services. The research on caregiver burden among Asian-American intergenerational caregivers is limited. To investigate how spirituality and mental health help-seeking attitudes correlate with and predict perceived feelings of caregiver burden among Asian-American caregivers. Favorable mental health help-seeking attitudes were predicted to negatively correlate with caregiver burden, and spirituality was predicted to negatively correlate with and negatively predict caregiver burden. Quantitative survey research. Community mental health. One hundred one participants were recruited using the following inclusion criteria: Asian-Americans who currently or previously provided care to an Asian family member at least one generation older than the caregiver for at least 1 mo and in the past 3 yr. Outcomes and Measures: Items from the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, Spirituality Scale, Expressions of Spirituality Inventory-Revised, Mental Help Seeking Attitudes Scale, and Self-Stigma of Seeking Psychological Help measured caregiver burden, spirituality, and mental health help-seeking attitudes. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between caregiver burden and spirituality and between caregiver burden and mental health help-seeking attitudes. Spirituality and number of domains of care were statistically significant predictors of caregiver burden. Spirituality was found to negatively predict caregiver burden among Asian-American intergenerational caregivers. Mental health help-seeking attitudes were negatively correlated with caregiver burden. Occupational therapy practitioners have the opportunity to integrate spirituality and culturally sensitive mental health promotion into their services to Asian-Americans. What This Article Adds: Evidence that spirituality is a negative predictor of caregiver burden for Asian-American intergenerational caregivers offers a unique opportunity for occupational therapy practitioners to offer alternative methods of mental health promotion with this population. Understanding that spirituality and mental health help-seeking attitudes are culturally mediated allows practitioners to be informed about a dynamic in Asian-American culture.

Anxiety, Depression, and The Burden of Caring for Patients with Palliative NeedsProspective Longitudinal Study

Objectives: This study aims to measure the primary caregiver’s (PrC) anxiety, depression and burden of care and to identify the correlation between the outcomes. Material and Methods: This prospective observational longitudinal study assessed the burden of care for patients with palliative needs comparatively between two groups: caregivers of patients with cancer and caregivers of patients with non-malignant diseases. At the same time, the score of anxiety and depression of these caregivers was measured. The researcher used the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers (BSFC) to measure the burden of care and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) to measure the anxiety and depression of primary caregivers. These questionnaires were applied at the initial moment (T0) and periodically for three months. If the patient died in this period, the caregivers were evaluated two months after the event. Statistical analysis used the Mann Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon test to compare the two groups and Pearson test to assess the correlation between burden and anxiety/ depression. Results: The burden assessment of caregivers for cancer patients showed a statistically significant increase over 3 months (p=0.001). At the initial moment (T0), a statistically significant difference is observed between the burden of the oncological group and the non-oncological one. The correlation between the caregiver's burden and anxiety/ depression was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The load had a direct and statistically significant impact on the PrC's psycho-emotional state, and there is a strong link between it and the caregiver's anxiety and sadness when caring for a palliative patient. From a practical point of view, it is important to early identify the burden of care and to know how the PrC is relating to it, as well as to assess his/her psycho-emotional state in order to act through appropriate and individualized interventions.

DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES ON CAREGIVER BURDEN, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND HOPELESSNESS AMONG CAREGIVERS OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE: To explore the demographic differences on caregiver burden, hopelessness, and psychological distress among caregivers of psychiatric patients. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad and Nishtar Hospital Multan, Pakistan in eight months from 10th April 2019 to 20th November 2019. Purposive sampling technique was used to include 240 caregivers of different age of Psychiatric patients (with different duration of illness and type of illness) which were assessed on Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and Beck Hopelessness Scale. RESULTS: Out of 240 participants, 124 (51.6%) were females and 116 (48.3%) were males, ranging in age from 18 to 45 years. Results disclosed that age group 36-45 years showed significant mean difference on psychological distress and age group 18-35 years showed significant difference on hopelessness at p&lt;0.01. While, caregivers dealing with patients who have illness for more than 20 years have significant mean difference on psychological distress and hopelessness at p&lt;0.05. Caregivers dealing with patients who have less than 5 years of illness have significant mean difference on caregiver burden at p&lt;0.001, and caregivers of patients with schizophrenia have significant mean difference with substance abuse, mood disorder and mental retardation on psychological distress and hopelessness at p&lt;0.05. CONCLUSION: Older adults have higher psychological distress while, young adults have higher level of hopelessness. Caregivers of prolonged mental illness have higher psychological distress and caregiver burden. Caregivers of schizophrenic patients have higher level of psychological distress and hopelessness.