Predictors of family caregiving burden of persons with schizophrenia with and without transition of primary caregivers from 1994 to 2015 in rural China

[摘要] Background Little is known about how sociodemographic and clinical factorsaffect the caregiving burden of persons with schizophrenia(PwSs) with transition in primary caregivers.AimsThis study aimed to examine the predictive effects of sociodemographic and clinical factors on the caregiving burden of PwSswith and without caregiver transition from 1994 to 2015 in ruralChina.MethodUsing panel data, 206 dyads of PwSs and their primary caregiverswere investigated in both 1994 and 2015. The generalised linearmodel approach was used to examine the predictive effects ofsociodemographic factors, severity of symptoms and changes insocial functioning on the caregiving burden with and withoutcaregiver transition.ResultsThe percentages of families with and without caregiver transitionwere 38.8% and 61.2%, respectively. Among families withoutcaregiver transition, a heavier burden was significantly related toa larger family size and more severe symptoms in PwSs.Deteriorated functioning of ‘social activities outside the household’ and improved functioning of ‘activity in the household’were protective factors against a heavy caregiving burden.Among families with caregiver transition, younger age, improvedmarital functioning, deteriorated self-care functioning, and better functioning of ‘social interest or concern’ were significant riskfactors for caregiving burden.ConclusionsThe effects of sociodemographic and clinical correlates on thecaregiving burden were different among families with and without caregiver transition. It is crucial to explore the caregiverarrangement of PwSs and the risk factors for burden over time,which will facilitate culture-specific family interventions, community-based mental health services and recovery.

[学科分类] 计算机科学（综合）

[关键词] Schizophrenia;primary caregivers;social functioning;caregiving burden;long-term care