TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological distress as a predictor of the burden of care in family caregivers of COVID-19 patients in Iran
T2 - A community-based cross-sectional study
AU - Mirhosseini, Seyedmohammad
AU - Grimwood, Samuel
AU - Basirinezhad, Mohammad Hasan
AU - Montazeri, Rasoul
AU - Ebrahimi, Hossein
N1 - Funding Information:
The present study was a result of a research project approved by the research deputy of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences with the referral code 9997. The authors would like to express thanks and gratitude to the study participants and deputy of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences for their contributions to conducting the study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PY - 2022/11/2
Y1 - 2022/11/2
N2 - Background and Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has profoundly affected millions worldwide, including family caregivers of COVID-19 patients, in terms of caregiver burden and psychological distress. The present study aimed to evaluate the care burden and psychological distress among family caregivers, caring for a family member with COVID-19. Methods: The present study was performed with a cross-sectional design in the Shahroud community, northeast Iran using the convenience sampling method. A total of 297 family caregivers of COVID-19 patients were assessed using self-report scales including the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 and the Zarit burden interview to assess the symptoms of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) and caregiver burden. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate regression analysis). Results: Factors such as self-reported symptoms of depression (β = 0.920, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.712, p < 0.02) were significantly predicted care burden. Variables such as lower levels of education of the family member and caregivers and also the relationship between the caregiver and family member were additional predictive factors that aggravated the care burden. Conclusion: Caregivers of a family member with COVID-19 suffer significant levels of care burden that also results from psychological distress such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, appropriate psychoeducational interventions are highly recommended.
AB - Background and Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has profoundly affected millions worldwide, including family caregivers of COVID-19 patients, in terms of caregiver burden and psychological distress. The present study aimed to evaluate the care burden and psychological distress among family caregivers, caring for a family member with COVID-19. Methods: The present study was performed with a cross-sectional design in the Shahroud community, northeast Iran using the convenience sampling method. A total of 297 family caregivers of COVID-19 patients were assessed using self-report scales including the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 and the Zarit burden interview to assess the symptoms of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) and caregiver burden. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate regression analysis). Results: Factors such as self-reported symptoms of depression (β = 0.920, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.712, p < 0.02) were significantly predicted care burden. Variables such as lower levels of education of the family member and caregivers and also the relationship between the caregiver and family member were additional predictive factors that aggravated the care burden. Conclusion: Caregivers of a family member with COVID-19 suffer significant levels of care burden that also results from psychological distress such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, appropriate psychoeducational interventions are highly recommended.
KW - Covid-19
KW - covid 19
KW - Iran
KW - Carer burden
KW - Care burden
KW - Carers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143117160&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hsr2.942
DO - 10.1002/hsr2.942
M3 - Article
SN - 2398-8835
VL - 5
JO - Health Science Reports
JF - Health Science Reports
IS - 6
M1 - e942
ER -
