Predictors of burden among lower socioeconomic status caregivers of persons with chronic mental illness.
This study uses a stress-coping-support framework to examine the predictors of caregiver burden with a sample of 103 lower social class family caregivers of persons with chronic mental illness. Results of multiple regression analyses show that the greater the frequency of client behavioral symptoms and the lower the amount of perceived support from family members, the higher the level of overall caregiver burden. Examination of the predictors of specific types of burden-family disruption, stigma, strain, and dependency-reveal that different constellations of variables predict different types of burden. The need for mental health agencies to address caregiver and client concerns is addressed. Implications are presented for practice and future research.
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7164.
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Biegel
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Milligan
P L
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Putnam
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Song
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors