Anli Leng1, Caifen Xu2, Stephen Nicholas3, Jennifer Nicholas4, Jian Wang5. 1. Center for Health Economics Experiment and Public Policy, School of Public Health, Shandong University; Key Laboratory of Health Economics and Policy Research, NHFPC (Shandong University), Jinan, China. No. 44 Wenhuaxi Road, Lixia District, 250012, Jinan, China. 2. The Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science & Technology Tangshan, Hebei 063000, China. 3. School of Economics and School of Management, Tianjin Normal University, West Bin Shui Avenue, Tianjin 300074, China; TOP Education Institute, 1 Central Avenue, Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh NSW 2015 Sydney Australia; Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: stephen.nicholas@newcastle.edu.au. 4. Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: j.nicholas@blackdog.org.au. 5. Center for Health Economics Experiment and Public Policy, School of Public Health, Shandong University; Key Laboratory of Health Economics and Policy Research, NHFPC (Shandong University), Jinan, China. No. 44 Wenhuaxi Road, Lixia District, 250012, Jinan, China. Electronic address: wangjiannan@sdu.edu.cn.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and social support among family caregivers of a family member with a mental illness and to identify factors associated with the QoL. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, where participants were recruited and independently interviewed using a questionnaire, consisting of demographic characteristics, the Medical Outcome Survey SF-36 form, and social support rating scales. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to analyse the factors related to QoL. RESULTS: 181 family caregivers were recruited in Shandong province, China. On a composite QoL score, family caregivers perceived that their QoL was poor (68.3), especially in the aspects of role-physical (61.3), role-emotional (57.6) and mental health (63.0). We also found family caregivers received low social support, especially in objective support and utilization of social support. Patient's illness state, care time, financial burden and objective support were significantly correlated to caregivers' QoL in the physical component score (PCS). Patient's illness state, patient's marital status, family monthly income, caregiver's knowledge about the illness, caregivers coordinating caring, life and work, subjective support received and utility of support were significantly associated with caregivers' QoL in the mental component score (MCS). CONCLUSIONS: Social support had a significant correlation with caregivers' QoL. Caregivers should be encouraged to request assistance from other family members and friends in providing care, especially when caregivers are unemployed or long-time carers. Mental health education campaigns and helping families to maintain and enhance a supportive social network may provide useful means to improve caregivers' QoL.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and social support among family caregivers of a family member with a mental illness and to identify factors associated with the QoL. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, where participants were recruited and independently interviewed using a questionnaire, consisting of demographic characteristics, the Medical Outcome Survey SF-36 form, and social support rating scales. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to analyse the factors related to QoL. RESULTS: 181 family caregivers were recruited in Shandong province, China. On a composite QoL score, family caregivers perceived that their QoL was poor (68.3), especially in the aspects of role-physical (61.3), role-emotional (57.6) and mental health (63.0). We also found family caregivers received low social support, especially in objective support and utilization of social support. Patient's illness state, care time, financial burden and objective support were significantly correlated to caregivers' QoL in the physical component score (PCS). Patient's illness state, patient's marital status, family monthly income, caregiver's knowledge about the illness, caregivers coordinating caring, life and work, subjective support received and utility of support were significantly associated with caregivers' QoL in the mental component score (MCS). CONCLUSIONS: Social support had a significant correlation with caregivers' QoL. Caregivers should be encouraged to request assistance from other family members and friends in providing care, especially when caregivers are unemployed or long-time carers. Mental health education campaigns and helping families to maintain and enhance a supportive social network may provide useful means to improve caregivers' QoL.
Authors: Joaquín Salvador Lima-Rodríguez; Alejandro Jesús de Medina-Moragas; María José Fernández-Fernández; Marta Lima-Serrano Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2022-02-10