Assessment of the Psychological Burden Among Family Caregivers of People Living with Alzheimer’s Disease Using the Zarit Burden Interview

Abstract

Background: In China, family caregivers play a major role in caring for people living with Alzheimer’s disease (PLWAD), but little is known about the burden this creates. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the burden among family caregivers of PLWAD and the factors influenced it. Methods: Family caregivers of PLWAD were recruited from a hospital in China from January 2018 to July 2018. All data were collected online using the Chinese version of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and the participants’ sociodemographic and caregiving details were obtained. T-tests and Kruskal-Wallis H (K) tests were used to compare ZBI scores between groups. Factors related to the caregiver psychological burden were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. Results: A total of 300 participants were assessed, of which 213 (71.00%) were female. More than half of the caregivers were the patient’s daughter (51.0%, n = 153). The average ZBI score of the caregivers was 43.05 (13.42). The level of burden was influenced by age, the relationship of the caregiver to the patient, the severity of AD, the caregiver’s retirement status, the income level of the caregiver, and the caring time. Regression analysis showed that retired caregivers were more likely to have higher levels of burden and that burden increased with AD severity. Conclusion: Most family caregivers of PLWAD have a considerable caregiver psychological burden. The findings increase the understanding of factors that influence family caregiver burden, and pave the way for potential interventions, such as social support and caregiver empowerment, to reduce their burden.

Care burden on family caregivers of patients with dementia and affecting factors in China: A systematic review

“…Of the 23 studies, 8 ( 14 , 21 – 27 ) (34.8%) were in English and 15 ( 15 – 17 , 28 – 39 ) (65.2%) were in Chinese. In addition, 14 studies ( 14 – 16 , 21 , 23 , 27 – 29 , 32 , 34 – 39 ) (60.9%) employed Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), 7 ( 17 , 22 , 24 – 26 , 31 , 33 ) (30.4%) employed Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), 1 ( 30 ) (4.3%) employed Family Burden Scale (FBS), and 1 ( 15 ) (4.3%) employed Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). This review included 4,076 participants, and the sample sizes ranged from 94 to 335.…”

“…Studies ( 15 , 30 , 33 , 37 ) have indicated that 70.3–100% of family caregivers bear the burden of care. In addition, primary family caregivers in 14 studies ( 14 , 16 , 22 , 23 , 26 , 28 – 30 , 32 – 37 ) (60.9%) were offspring or other relatives and in six studies ( 15 , 24 , 25 , 27 , 31 , 38 ) (26.1%) were spouses, but three studies ( 17 , 21 , 39 ) (13%) were failed to mention the proportion of caregivers.…”

“…depicts the characteristics of the included studies. Of the 23 studies, 8(14,(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27) (34.8%) were in English and 15 (15-17, 28-39) (65.2%) were in Chinese. In addition, 14 studies (14-16, 21, 23, 27-29, 32, 34-39) (60.9%) employed Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), 7 (17, 22, 24-26, 31, 33) (30.4%) employed Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), 1 (30) (4.3%) employed Family Burden Scale (FBS), and 1 (15) (4.3%) employed Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).…”

Effects of rTMS treatment on global cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated dementia accounts for 60–80% of dementia cases, and is a significant health concern in the elderly (Alzheimer's, 2018 ). Cognitive impairments are the main clinical manifestations of AD, and affect patients and caregivers, and increase societal burden (Yin et al, 2021 ). Drugs such as donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine commonly used for treatment if AD do not impact long-term prognosis (Liao et al, 2015 ).…”

Analysis of family stigma and socioeconomic factors impact among caregivers of patients with early- and late-onset Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia

“…This test has 22 items on a five-point Likert type scale from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating a higher burden. The scale measures the psychological burden and stress experienced by caregivers caring for people with dementia 15 . Depressive symptomatology CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) 16 .…”