The aim of this study was to examine and identify the psychological, clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with emotional well-being by type of caregiver. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 185 primary caregivers and 92 secondary caregivers of patients with an eating disorder using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Experience of Caregiving Inventory and the Eating Disorders Symptom Impact Scale. According to a multiple regression analysis, a total of four models were obtained accounting for 42%-47% of the variance in emotional well-being. The variable that accounted for most of the variance of emotional well-being in three of the models was the impact of nutrition. Improving aspects of the relationships with the patients reduced anxiety and depression levels in primary caregivers. Similarly, a positive personal experience reduced depression in secondary caregivers. A higher education level was associated with decreased anxiety levels in both types of caregivers. Specific family interventions including both types of caregivers may be useful for providing emotional and adaptive personal coping skills.

Resumen: El objetivo del estudio fue explorar las diferencias en el estado general de salud y psicopatología entre cuidadores principales y secundarios de pacientes con trastorno del comportamiento alimentario. Se suministró una batería de cuestionarios a una muestra de 186 familiares (93 cuidadores principales y 93 secundarios). Los resultados indicaron que los cuidadores principales presentaban peores valores en malestar psicológico, ansiedad, depresión, y síntomas psicopatoló-gicos en comparación con el grupo de cuidadores secundarios. La frecuencia de sujetos (cuidadores primarios versus secundarios) que alcanzaron el punto de corte de gravedad psicopatológica (GSI del SCL-90-R) fue similar para ambos grupos. Aunque los dos grupos de cuidadores presentaban una prevalencia de psicopatología similar, los resultados sugieren que sobre todo los cuidadores primarios se encuentran en situación de riesgo para su salud mental general, ansiedad y depresión.Palabras clave: cuidador principal, trastorno alimentario, experiencia negativa, ansiedad, depresión, psicopatología. Assessment of general health and psychopathology among family members in eating disorder settings: Differences between primary and secondary caregiversAbstract: The purpose of this work was to assess differences in general health and psychopathology between primary and secondary caregivers of patients with a diagnosis of eating disorder. A battery of questionnaires was administered to a sample of 186 family members (93 primary and 93 secondary caregivers). The results indicate that primary caregivers presented worse scores in general health, anxiety, depression and psychopathological symptoms, compared with the group of secondary caregivers. The frequency of subjects (primary versus secondary caregivers) who reached the cut-off point in the SCL-90-R Global Severity Index (GSI) of psychopathology was similar for both groups. Even though the two caregiver groups presented a similar prevalence of psychopathology, the results suggest that mainly primary caregivers fi nd themselves in a situation with risk for their general mental health, anxiety and depression.

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