title: The experience of caring in relatives to patients with serious mental illness: gender differences, health and functioning.
abstract: The aims of the study were twofold. First, the study examined the extent to which there are gender differences in the experience of caring in a sample of relatives of patients with serious mental illness. Secondly, the study examined the association of self-reports of health and functioning with the experience of burden among relatives of patients with serious mental illness. A total of 50 relatives of 32 patients receiving psychiatric treatment for their bipolar or psychotic condition completed the Experience of Caregiving Inventory (ECI) and COOP-WONCA (a self-report measure of general state of health and functioning). The study revealed that female relatives had a higher score on eight of 10 ECI subscores, and in both ECI negative and ECI positive. Additionally, the study revealed significant correlations between a higher score on the COOP-WONCA feeling subscore and the following ECI subscores: stigma (r = 0.304, p < 0.05), problem with services (r = 0.348, p < 0.05), need to back up (r = 0.335, p < 0.05), loss (r = 0.293, p < 0.05) and the total ECI negative subscore (r = 0.343, p < 0.05). We also found a significant correlation between a higher score on the overall health subscore (COOP-WONCA) and a higher score on problems with services (r = 0.290, p < 0.05). Gender was the strongest predictor of the ECI negative subscore. Neither the COOP-WONCA subscore physical health, daily activities or social activities correlated significantly with any of the ECI subscores. Our results showed strong associations between poor mental well-being and caregiver burden. We also found a higher association with gender and the feelings subscore (COOP-WONCA) on ECI negative than we had expected.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Department of Østmarka, St Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Turid
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: Camilla Buch
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Gudde
authors.forename: Gunn Eva
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Folden
authors.forename: Olav M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Linaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires