Influence of psychological responses of caregiving on the perceived health of family caregivers to acute stroke survivors

Abstract

Family caregivers provide round-the-clock care to their family members who had a stroke. The detrimental effects of caregiving on caregiver's health would lead to the abandonment of caregiver role and institutionalization of stroke survivors. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the perceived health status of family caregivers to stroke survivors. This study conducted a secondary analysis of the baseline data of 142 family caregivers of stroke survivors nested within a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Potential factors were identified according to the Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center model and were analyzed with hierarchical multiple regression models. The results indicated that stroke caregivers exhibited comparable perceived physical health with general population but poorer perceived mental health. Severity of depressive symptoms (β = −0.37, P < .001) remained the strongest and most significant factor associated with perceived mental health, followed by confidence in problemsolving (β = −0.21, P < .05). Moreover, caregiving competence (β = 0.29, P < .001) was the sole significant psychological factor associated with perceived physical health. Caregiving competence, problem-solving abilities, and severity of depressive symptoms are significant modifiable correlates of the perceived health of caregivers. Intervention for improving these psychological responses of caregivers is suggested incorporated in stroke rehabilitation programs.

Ten Priorities for Research Addressing the Intersections of Brain Injury, Mental Health and Addictions: A Stakeholder‐Driven Priority‐Setting Study

“…Anecdotal reports of individuals being ‘too brain injured for mental health care’ while ‘too mentally ill for brain injury care’ are common, but researchers have yet to comprehensively formulate and evaluate effective solutions to this real‐world problem. Relating to question 10, this lack of adequate care can lead to family members becoming informal caregivers, the burden of which has been negatively associated with the quality of life for both ABI patients and their caregivers [ 74 , 75 ]. Question 10 calls for a greater study of interventions for informal caregivers and their potential for promoting quality of life.…”