The prediction level of caregiver burden on caregivers’ state-trait anxiety levels

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine if caregiver burden predicts the caregivers’ state-trait anxiety levels. Methods: The sample set of the study is consisted of 140 voluntary families out of 155 of whom are the members of home care unit of Zeytinburnu Municipality Family, Women and Disabled Support Center and they also live in Zeytinburnu, in Istanbul. Findings: According to the findings of the study there were positive significant correlations between trait anxiety scores and the time dependence, developmental, physical, social and emotional burden scale scores. It was seen that care giver burden explains 62.1% of total variance of state anxiety and 53.2% of trait anxiety of caregivers. Considering the t Test results related to the significance of regression coefficients, physical and emotional burden subdimensions are the most significant predictors of state-trait anxiety. Discussion: Results show that the caregiver burden increases caregivers’ state-trait anxiety and caregiver burden has an important effect on caregivers of geriatric patients’ state-trait anxiety. Caregiving can have negative effects on caregivers health and well-being. Physical fatigue and un health of the caregiver resulting from constantly caregiving can lead to an increase in depression and anxiety. The positive correlations found between care giver burden and state-trait anxiety are consistent with the previous studies. Caregiving is an important factor causes anxiety and according to the individual interviews as a result of some illnesses having excessive amount of cost, caregiver can have socio-economic based anxiety. In the similar way, another issue aroused from the interviews with caregivers participated in the study is to take psychological support soon after caregiving, strengthens the relationship between caregiver burden and anxiety.