title: Caregiver needs and stress in caring for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Individuals with FASD experience neurodevelopmental impairments and adverse outcomes, which can result in stress on the caregiver. However, there is little research on the needs of caregivers supporting individuals with FASD and whether they are associated with caregiver stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  125 caregivers of individuals with FASD completed a survey with questions adapted from the Family Caregiver Survey and the Perceived Stress Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers reported a range of needs and concerns, and high levels of stress. In many areas of caregiver well-being concerns tended to be higher among caregivers with adolescents and adults compared to those with children. Foster parents reported fewer well-being concerns than biological/kinship and adoptive parents. Caregivers who cared for the individuals for longer periods of time reported the most well-being concerns and lowest satisfaction with supports. Caregivers with the lowest income reported higher levels of stress than those with higher incomes. Higher reported stress was highly correlated with more needs/concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregivers of individuals with FASD have multiple areas of need and concern, and experience high levels of stress. Reducing demands on caregivers and providing resources may help reduce caregiver needs and stress, particularly for those caring for adolescents and adults, and those with lower incomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Saskatchewan, Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program, Canada. Electronic address: sab281@mail.usask.ca.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bobbitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Baugh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Canada.
authors.forename: Gail H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Canada.
authors.forename: Jocelynn L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Canada FASD Research Network, Canada.
authors.forename: Courtney R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Jacqueline R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Carmen R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption; D000416:Alberta; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Caregiver; FASD; Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; Needs; Stress