AUTHOR=Marinho Jéssica da Silva , Batista Ilaise Brilhante , Nobre Rute Alessandra da Silva , Guimarães Maria Sortênia Alves , Santos-Orlandi Ariene Angelini dos , Brito Tábatta Renata Pereira , Pagotto Valéria , Saidel Maria Giovana Borges , Fusco Suzimar de Fátima Benato , Maia Flavia de Oliveira Motta , Corona Ligiana Pires , Nunes Daniella Pires 

TITLE=Burden, satisfaction caregiving, and family relations in informal caregivers of older adults

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.1059467

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2022.1059467

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Family caregivers of older persons devote much of their time and energy to caring for another person. This exposure may burden caregivers and compromise their health and quality of life.</p></sec><sec><title>Objective</title><p>To investigate the relationship between burden, sociodemographic, caregiving, and health characteristics of informal caregivers of dependent older adults.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Cross-sectional and analytical study carried out in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil, with 52 informal caregivers of older persons who need full-time help for basic living activities. Caregivers' burden was assessed by Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Data were analyzed using a <italic>T</italic>-test, Pearson's correlation, and Multiple Linear Regression.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The ZBI mean score of caregivers was 26.3 points (SD = 14.6; min = 0; max = 68). Burden scores were higher among caregivers who did not receive help from other people in care (<italic>p</italic> = 0.016), reported family dysfunction (<italic>p</italic> = 0.001), and had depression symptoms (<italic>p</italic> = 0.007). A correlation was found between the scores of burdens and satisfaction with care (<italic>r</italic> = 0.76; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and perceived material support (<italic>r</italic> = −0.30; <italic>p</italic> = 0.40). Satisfaction with care (β: 0.61; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and family dysfunction (β: 8.07; <italic>p</italic> = 0.033) were significantly associated with the burden score.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Caregivers with dysfunctional families and satisfaction with the care presented the highest-burden scores. The findings reveal the need for strategies to facilitate mediation and reduce caregiver burden by strengthening the family network support or providing professional assistance.</p></sec>