Prevalence and related factors of caregiving burden among family caregivers of patients with mental illness in China

TL;DR

This study finds that over half of family caregivers for people with mental illness in China experience significant caregiving burdens linked to economic stress and family disruption.

Contribution

The study identifies key predictors of caregiving burden in Chinese mental healthcare and highlights the protective role of co-caregivers.

Findings

57.25% of caregivers experienced caregiving burden, marked by economic strain and family disruption.

Economic burden, family activity disruption, and lack of co-caregivers were significant predictors of caregiving burden.

Shared caregiving and economic support could reduce caregiver burden in mental healthcare systems.

Abstract

Family caregivers are essential yet often overburdened in mental healthcare systems. However, the burden of Family caregivers in Mainland China remains limited. This study examines the prevalence of caregiving burden among family caregivers of individuals with mental illness in Mainland China and explores its association with personal and familial factors.

Employing a cross-sectional design, we recruited 400 family caregivers from the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in China. This study collected data using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Family Burden Scale of Disease (FBSD).

The prevalence of caregiving burden was 57.25%. Caregivers with burden reported higher levels of economic burden, greater disruptions in family activities and entertainment, increased family relationship tension, and worse physical and mental health among family members than those without burden. They also had longer caregiving durations, greater economic burden pressure due to the patient’s illness, and generally lacked co-caregivers compared to caregivers without burden. The impact of the patient’s illness on economic burden, family activities, family entertainment, and the physical and mental health of family members was positively associated with the occurrence of caregiving burden, while the presence of co-caregivers had a protective effect (OR < 1). ROC curve analysis further identified disruptions in family activities, family entertainment, and economic burden as significant predictors of caregiving burden (AUC > 0.70).

Caregiving burden is strongly linked to economic burden, impaired family functioning, and the physical and mental health of family members, while co-caregiver support mitigates this burden. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive support strategies, including economic assistance and shared-caregiving models, to alleviate caregiver burden within the mental healthcare system.