Subjective burden among family members of mentally ill adults: relation to stress, coping, and adaptation.

Among 225 family members participating in a study of psychoeducational interventions, 39% of the variance in subjective burden was explained by the severity of stressors related to the relative's illness and by mediators related to social support and coping capabilities. Interventions directed toward improving self-efficacy and coping strategies may be important mediators of subjective burden.