title: Family burden related to mental and physical disorders in the world: results from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess prevalence and correlates of family caregiver burdens associated with mental and physical conditions worldwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional community surveys asked 43,732 adults residing in 19 countries of the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys about chronic physical and mental health conditions of first-degree relatives and associated objective (time, financial) and subjective (distress, embarrassment) burdens. Magnitudes and associations of burden are examined by kinship status and family health problem; population-level estimates are provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 18.9-40.3% of respondents in high, upper-middle, and low/lower-middle income countries with first-degree relatives having serious health problems, 39.0-39.6% reported burden. Among those, 22.9-31.1% devoted time, 10.6-18.8% had financial burden, 23.3-27.1% reported psychological distress, and 6.0-17.2% embarrassment. Mean caregiving hours/week was 12.9-16.5 (83.7-147.9 hours/week/100 people aged 18+). Mean financial burden was 15.1% of median family income in high, 32.2% in upper-middle, and 44.1% in low/lower-middle income countries. A higher burden was reported by women than men, and for care of parents, spouses, and children than siblings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The uncompensated labor of family caregivers is associated with substantial objective and subjective burden worldwide. Given the growing public health importance of the family caregiving system, it is vital to develop effective interventions that support family caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, ES, Brazil. mcviana@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shahly
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alhamzawi
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Laura H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Matthias C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benjet
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruffaerts
authors.forename: Jose Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Caldas-de-Almeida
authors.forename: Giovanni de
authors.initials: Gd
authors.lastname: Girolamo
authors.forename: Peter de
authors.initials: Pd
authors.lastname: Jonge
authors.forename: Finola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferry
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Florescu
authors.forename: Oye
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gureje
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.forename: Hristo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hinkov
authors.forename: Chiyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Elie G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lépine
authors.forename: Daphna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levinson
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Posada-Villa
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kessler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult