Predictors of family caregiving burden of persons with schizophrenia with and without transition of primary caregivers from 1994 to 2015 in rural China

Abstract

Background Little is known about how sociodemographic and clinical factors affect the caregiving burden of persons with schizophrenia (PwSs) with transition in primary caregivers. Aims This study aimed to examine the predictive effects of sociodemographic and clinical factors on the caregiving burden of PwSs with and without caregiver transition from 1994 to 2015 in rural China. Method Using panel data, 206 dyads of PwSs and their primary caregivers were investigated in both 1994 and 2015. The generalised linear model approach was used to examine the predictive effects of sociodemographic factors, severity of symptoms and changes in social functioning on the caregiving burden with and without caregiver transition. Results The percentages of families with and without caregiver transition were 38.8% and 61.2%, respectively. Among families without caregiver transition, a heavier burden was significantly related to a larger family size and more severe symptoms in PwSs. Deteriorated functioning of ‘social activities outside the household’ and improved functioning of ‘activity in the household’ were protective factors against a heavy caregiving burden. Among families with caregiver transition, younger age, improved marital functioning, deteriorated self-care functioning, and better functioning of ‘social interest or concern’ were significant risk factors for caregiving burden. Conclusions The effects of sociodemographic and clinical correlates on the caregiving burden were different among families with and without caregiver transition. It is crucial to explore the caregiver arrangement of PwSs and the risk factors for burden over time, which will facilitate culture-specific family interventions, community-based mental health services and recovery.

Perceived mental health and emotional trajectories of long-term family caregivers of persons with mental conditions: A mixed-methods study

“…The participants in our study expressed emotions towards coping, such as resignation-acceptance, which were also reported by Olwit et al (2015) and Peng et al (2022) in a recently published study carried out in rural China. In addition, and congruent with previous research on caregivers of people with chronic mental disorders and other chronic conditions such as dementia and cancer, positive emotions, namely calm, hope, peace, control-strength and satisfaction were also identified in this study by ten caregivers (Balducci et al, 2008;Weimand et al, 2013;Olwit et al, 2015;Leow & Chan, 2017;Shiraishi & Reilly, 2019;Liu and Zhang, 2020;Peng et al, 2022). In our study, most family caregivers reported that they had experienced a turning point when they sought support from health professionals or family or when their relative X: Perceived mental health problems experienced in the past.…”

Including families in schizophrenia treatment: a systematic review

“…The family feel the burden of care costs due to the length of recovery at the health service and the frequency of recurrence, resulting in shorter re-admissions. The findings suggest that low income, stigma, and quality of family care are critical determinants of health-related quality of life, so efforts to increase life satisfaction focus on reducing stigma, increasing family income and strengthening the quality of family-centered care [21], [26].…”

Patient’s disability and caregiver burden among Chinese family caregivers of individual living with schizophrenia: mediation effects of potentially harmful behavior, affiliate stigma, and social support

“…Considering these undesirable consequences, serval studies tried to understand predictors of family caregiving burden for individuals living with schizophrenia 14 . Researchers found that some disease-related factors including patients' higher level of disability 15,16 , longer duration of illness 17 , more aggressive behaviors 18 were associated higher level of family caregiving burden. In addition, some caregiver-related factors such as low social support 19 , perceived stigma 20 were associated higher level of caregiver burden.…”