Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem (Jul 2013)

Burden, Coping, Physical Symptoms and Psychological Morbidity in Caregivers of Functionally Dependent Family Members

  • Ana Catarina Guedes,
  • Maria da Graça Pereira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-11692013000400015
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 4
pp. 935 – 940

Abstract

Read online

OBJECTIVES: this study assessed burden, coping, physical symptoms and psychological morbidity in caregivers of functionally dependent family members. METHODS: fifty family caregivers completed self-reported measures of burden, physical symptoms, psychological morbidity and coping strategies. RESULTS: there was a significant negative correlation between coping strategies and the different clinical variables, as well as a significant positive correlation between coping strategies and duration of care. It appears that the stronger bond between caregiver and family member leads to a poorer use of adaptive coping strategies. It also appears that the deterioration of the relationship between them and the lower perceived self-efficacy are more prominent in caregivers of family members with cognitive impairment, indicating that caregivers with family members without cognitive impairment face fewer difficulties. CONCLUSION: these results emphasize the need for interventions to include coping strategies, since they are important in reducing caregivers' burden, psychological morbidity and physical symptoms.

Keywords