Relation Among Anxiety and Family Burden in Primary First-Degree Caregivers of Outpatients with Mental Disorders in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relation among anxiety and family burden in primary first-degree relative caregivers of outpatients with mental disorders in Turkey. Data were collected with patients' primary first-degree relative caregivers via the Information Form, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Perceived Family Burden Scale (PFBS). In all, 481 caregivers (325 women and 156 men) participated in this study. Based on this study's results, primary caregivers of patients with mental disorders had a moderate level anxiety, and as anxiety increased, family burden also increased. Those results suggest that mental health nurses should plan interventions not only for patients, but also for their family member or their caregivers to decrease anxiety level.

Emotional Exhaustion in Housewives and Alzheimer Patients’ Caregivers: Its Effects on Chronic Diseases, Somatic Symptoms and Social Dysfunction

“…Our results enabled us to know the details of how work and care activities affect HWs and CHWs’ health, with the aim of designing psychosocial and educational interventions to prevent the risks derived from the activity they perform. Interventions should be directed through physical health programmes in order to improve their sleep quality [64], psychosocial programmes for caregivers that provide them with information regarding the disease and how to treat it at each stage, offering emotional support, and implementing strategies to cope, manage stress [65], and reduce anxiety [66] and sedentary behaviour [67], encouraging a healthy alternative to caregiving [68] that includes positive connotation variables, facilitating a change in the perception of their overload and overall health condition, with the objective of providing a higher level of satisfaction and better life qualify indices [69].…”

The effect of internalized stigmatization on care burden in adolescent psychiatric patients and their parents

“…Dikec et al (31) found that all participating parents were stigmatized in many areas and tried to hide their child's diagnosis (31). Oz et al (37) conducted a study with mothers of children and adolescents who had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (N = 69) and examined the relationship between mothers' internalized stigmatization perception, depressive symptom level, anxiety symptoms, and quality of life. The level of internalized stigmatization was found to be moderate.…”

“…The level of internalized stigmatization was found to be moderate. It was also found that most of the mothers had low quality of life scores and also low life satisfaction scores (37). Özaslan and Yıldırım (55) conducted a study with mothers of children who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder andfound that mothers experienced internalized stigmatization (55).…”

“…This perception or anxiety experienced by family members may increase the care burden forfamilies by causing anxiety and depressive symptoms ( 37 ). Even if there is no direct stigmatization, they may still be concerned about Stigmatization, which may affect the care burden of parents ( 38 ).…”

“…Also, individuals who have mental disorders or their families are worried about Stigmatization even if they are not exposed to stigmatization or discrimination. This perception or anxiety experienced by family members may increase the care burden forfamilies by causing anxiety and depressive symptoms (37). Even if there is no direct stigmatization, they may still be concerned about Stigmatization, which may affect the care burden of parents (38).…”