Mediational Model of Multiple Sclerosis Impairments, Family Needs, and Caregiver Mental Health in Guadalajara, Mexico

Abstract

Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially those living in Latin America, often require assistance from family caregivers throughout the duration of the disease. Previous research suggests that family caregivers may experience positive and negative outcomes from providing care to individuals with MS, but few studies have examined the unmet needs of individuals providing care to family members with MS and how these unmet needs may mediate the relationship between MS symptoms and caregiver mental health. The current study examined the relationships among MS impairments (functional, neurological, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional), unmet family needs (household, informational, financial, social support, and health), and caregiver mental health (satisfaction with life, anxiety, burden, and depression) in a sample of 81 MS caregivers from Guadalajara, Mexico. A structural equation model demonstrated the mediational effect of unmet family needs on the relationship between MS impairments and caregiver mental health. These findings suggest that intervention research on MS caregivers in Latin America may consider focusing on caregiver mental health problems by addressing unmet family needs and teaching caregivers ways to manage the impairments of the individual with MS.

Cross‐cultural differences in Parkinson's disease caregiving and burden between the United States and Mexico

“…Time spent caring in the current sample of caregivers was higher than other samples of caregivers of individuals with neurological conditions in Mexico. For example, a sample of caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis in Guadalajara, Mexico reported on average spending 70.96 hr a week providing care (Mickens et al, 2018), nearly 40 hr less than caregivers from the current sample. A more thorough investigation of caregiving activities among PD caregivers in Mexico may serve to explain the number of hours spent caregiving.…”

Assessment and Impact of Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis: An Overview

“…Mickens et al studied the mediational effect on the relationships between MS impairments (neurological, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and functional), unmet family needs (household information, financial, social, support, and health), and caregiver mental health (satisfaction with life, anxiety, burden, and depression) using a structural equation model. They suggested that intervention research on MS caregivers in Latin America may consider focusing on caregiver mental health problems by addressing unmet family needs and teaching caregivers’ ways to manage the impairments of the individual with MS [30].…”

Nörolojik Hastalık ve Evlilik

“…As a result, difficulty in acting independently, prevalent morbidity, depression, anxiety, and impairment in quality of life (QoL) are seen. 7,14,15 In literature, married MS patients have low risk of depression. 16,17 Also, married patients have low rate of receipt of behavioral medicine within one year of first neurology appointment compared to single and widowed.…”