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Caregiver burden and health-related quality of life among primary family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to examine correlates of caregiver burden and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among primary family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia in inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation facilities.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 157 Taiwanese primary family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia residing in inpatient psychiatric facilities. Measures included socio-demographic questionnaires and clinical information, Mutuality Scale, Family Crisis-Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales, Zarit Burden Interview, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief version. To describe the degree of caregiver burden and domains of HRQoL, descriptive statistics were computed. Independent sample t test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson’s correlation analysis followed by multiple regression analyses were performed to determine correlations and relationships between characteristics of patients and primary family caregivers with caregiver burden and domains of HRQoL.

Results

Primary family caregivers experienced mild to moderate caregiver burden and poor HRQoL. Primary family caregivers who were older and unemployed, caring for patient’s severe psychiatric symptoms, and had low monthly incomes, decreased mutuality, and fewer family coping strategies were associated with greater caregiver burden and poor HRQoL. Greater mutuality and family coping strategies of reframing and seeking spiritual support were the most significant factors in improving caregiver burden and all domains of HRQoL, respectively.

Conclusion

Family-focused interventions for caregivers of institutionalized persons with schizophrenia that include psychological support and peer support groups are recommended to enhance mutuality and family coping strategies, reduce caregiver burden, and improve HRQoL.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported in part by the Ministry of Science and Technology (No. 103-2410-H-040-007-MY2).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd Taiwan, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chiu-Yueh Hsiao & Yun-Fang Tsai

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chiu-Yueh Hsiao

  3. Jianan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 80, Ln. 870, Zhongshan Rd., Rende, Tai-nan, 717, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Huei-Lan Lu

  4. Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, 261, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yun-Fang Tsai

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Keelung, 222, Maijin Rd, Keelung, 204, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yun-Fang Tsai

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  1. Chiu-Yueh Hsiao
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  2. Huei-Lan Lu
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Contributions

All authors have actively contributed to the work and meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship. CYH, HLL, and YFT designed the study. CYH and YFT analyzed and interpreted data. HLL helped collect data. All authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript being submitted.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yun-Fang Tsai.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethics approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the Ethical Standards of the Institutional and/or National Research Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of two psychiatric hospitals (CS 13257 and 14-021).

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Written informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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Hsiao, CY., Lu, HL. & Tsai, YF. Caregiver burden and health-related quality of life among primary family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study. Qual Life Res 29, 2745–2757 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-020-02518-1

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