Burden, coping, physical symptoms and psychological morbidity in caregivers of ...

• Author(s): Guedes, Ana Catarina Magalhães Marçal ; Pereira, M. Graça
• Date: 2013
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/24989
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Caregivers; Adaptation; Psychological; Home Nursing; Family Relations
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Objectives: this study assessed burden, coping, physical symptoms and psychological morbidity in caregivers of functionally dependent family members. Methods: fifty family caregivers completed self-reported measures of burden, physical symptoms, psychological morbidity and coping strategies. Results: there was a significant negative correlation between coping strategies and the different clinical variables, as well as a significant positive correlation between coping strategies and duration of care. It appears that the stronger bond between caregiver and family member leads to a poorer use of adaptive coping strategies. It also appears that the deterioration of the relationship between them and the lower perceived self-efficacy are more prominente in caregivers of family members with cognitive impairment, indicating that caregivers with family members without cognitive impairment face fewer difficulties. Conclusion: these results emphasize the need for interventions to include coping strategies, since they are important in reducing caregivers’ burden, psychological morbidity and physical symptoms.