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Factors Associated With Care Burden and Quality of Life Among Caregivers of the Mentally Ill in Chinese Society

Author

Listed:
  • Chun Chieh Fan

    (Department of Adult Psychiatry, Ju Shan Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan)

  • Ying-Yeh Chen

    (Taipei City Psychiatric Centre, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ychen@tpech.gov.tw)

Abstract

Objectives: Few studies in Taiwan have looked into the burden of caregivers for the mentally ill and the influence of the burden on the quality of life among caregivers. The aim of this study is to explore the risk factors that may aggravate care burden and to assess the relationship between the caregivers’ burden and their quality of life. Method: Ninety caregivers of patients with mental illness, who were attending outpatient clinic services in Taipei City Psychiatric Centre, were assessed using a burden questionnaire and the brief questionnaire of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: Burden scores were significantly correlated with the number of care hours the caregivers spent daily with the patient, irrespective of their age, gender, kinship and educational level. Caregivers of patients with different psychiatric illnesses had similar levels of burden. Higher burden scores were correlated with a lower quality of life and retained unique predictive variance in multiple regressions in all four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusions: These findings indicate that care burden has a significant impact on caregivers’ quality of life. Daily care hours with the patient are the unique determinant of caregivers’ burden in Taiwan. Measures to reduce daily care hours should be considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Chun Chieh Fan & Ying-Yeh Chen, 2011. "Factors Associated With Care Burden and Quality of Life Among Caregivers of the Mentally Ill in Chinese Society," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(2), pages 195-206, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:57:y:2011:i:2:p:195-206
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764009348440
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthias C. Angermeyer & Reinhold Kilian & Hans-Ulrich Wilms & Bettina Wittmund, 2006. "Quality of Life of Spouses of Mentally Ill People," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 52(3), pages 278-285, May.
    2. Magliano, Lorenza & Fiorillo, Andrea & De Rosa, Corrado & Malangone, Claudio & Maj, Mario, 2005. "Family burden in long-term diseases: a comparative study in schizophrenia vs. physical disorders," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 313-322, July.
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