Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of people with mental illness in China: a cross-sectional survey
Abstract Background Caregiving for people with mental illness (PwMI) could be burdensome, especially for informal caregivers. However, there is a scarcity of research investigating caregiving burden among informal caregivers of PwMI in China at the national level. To fill this gap, this study examin...
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06239-4 |
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| author | Hao Yao Kunmei Li Chuan Li Shuang Hu Zhuoer Huang Jianhua Chen Yifeng Xu |
| author_facet | Hao Yao Kunmei Li Chuan Li Shuang Hu Zhuoer Huang Jianhua Chen Yifeng Xu |
| author_sort | Hao Yao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Caregiving for people with mental illness (PwMI) could be burdensome, especially for informal caregivers. However, there is a scarcity of research investigating caregiving burden among informal caregivers of PwMI in China at the national level. To fill this gap, this study examined the prevalence of caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety, as well as their associated factors, among a cross-sectional sample of informal caregivers of PwMI in China. Methods Data were collected via an online survey between June and November 2023. Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety were measured by the Zarit Burden Interview, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. Information on caregivers’ sociodemographic, care recipients’ sociodemographic and disease-related, and caregiving-related characteristics was also collected. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors of caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety. Results A total of 1,224 informal caregivers of PwMI in China were included in the final analysis. 72.1% of the participants had high caregiving burden, 53.5% had moderate to severe depression, and 43.1% had moderate to severe anxiety. Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety were inter-correlated with each other but exhibited different profiles of associated factors. The most important factors associated with all the three outcomes were disease-related characteristics, particularly care recipients’ symptom stability, medication compliance, and insight. Informal caregivers of males with mental illness had higher levels of caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety than those of females. There was a lack of differentiation in caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety based on care recipients’ diagnosis. Formal or common-law marriage was a protective factor for caregiver depression and anxiety but not for caregiving burden. Conclusion Informal caregivers of PwMI in China experienced a high level of caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety. Urgent actions are needed to relieve caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety among informal caregivers of PwMI in China. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aef21391bf8b40769f5c802be17cc86b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-aef21391bf8b40769f5c802be17cc86b2024-11-24T12:38:00ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2024-11-0124111510.1186/s12888-024-06239-4Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of people with mental illness in China: a cross-sectional surveyHao Yao0Kunmei Li1Chuan Li2Shuang Hu3Zhuoer Huang4Jianhua Chen5Yifeng Xu6Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic DisordersMind ChinaShanghai Hongkou Mental Health Center, Mental Health Center Affiliated to Shanghai University School of MedicineShanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic DisordersXiangya Nursing School, Central South UniversityShanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic DisordersShanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic DisordersAbstract Background Caregiving for people with mental illness (PwMI) could be burdensome, especially for informal caregivers. However, there is a scarcity of research investigating caregiving burden among informal caregivers of PwMI in China at the national level. To fill this gap, this study examined the prevalence of caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety, as well as their associated factors, among a cross-sectional sample of informal caregivers of PwMI in China. Methods Data were collected via an online survey between June and November 2023. Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety were measured by the Zarit Burden Interview, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. Information on caregivers’ sociodemographic, care recipients’ sociodemographic and disease-related, and caregiving-related characteristics was also collected. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors of caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety. Results A total of 1,224 informal caregivers of PwMI in China were included in the final analysis. 72.1% of the participants had high caregiving burden, 53.5% had moderate to severe depression, and 43.1% had moderate to severe anxiety. Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety were inter-correlated with each other but exhibited different profiles of associated factors. The most important factors associated with all the three outcomes were disease-related characteristics, particularly care recipients’ symptom stability, medication compliance, and insight. Informal caregivers of males with mental illness had higher levels of caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety than those of females. There was a lack of differentiation in caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety based on care recipients’ diagnosis. Formal or common-law marriage was a protective factor for caregiver depression and anxiety but not for caregiving burden. Conclusion Informal caregivers of PwMI in China experienced a high level of caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety. Urgent actions are needed to relieve caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety among informal caregivers of PwMI in China.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06239-4Caregiving burdenDepressionAnxietyInformal caregiverMental illnessn China |
| spellingShingle | Hao Yao Kunmei Li Chuan Li Shuang Hu Zhuoer Huang Jianhua Chen Yifeng Xu Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of people with mental illness in China: a cross-sectional survey BMC Psychiatry Caregiving burden Depression Anxiety Informal caregiver Mental illnessn China |
| title | Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of people with mental illness in China: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full | Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of people with mental illness in China: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_fullStr | Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of people with mental illness in China: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of people with mental illness in China: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_short | Caregiving burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of people with mental illness in China: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_sort | caregiving burden depression and anxiety in informal caregivers of people with mental illness in china a cross sectional survey |
| topic | Caregiving burden Depression Anxiety Informal caregiver Mental illnessn China |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06239-4 |
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