Caregiver burden and related factors in caregivers of children with autism / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the level of caregiver burden of primary caregivers of children with autism,and explore the factors related to caregiver burden.Methods 177 caregivers of children with autism were tested with caregiver burden inventory(CBI) and childhood autism rating scale(CARS).A cross-sectional and multisite study design was used.ResultsThe scores of caregiver burden was ( 57.50 ± 14.91 ),and time-dependence burden and developmental burden were the most serious domains.Caregiver burden was affected by caregiver's age,caregiver's religious beliefs,caregiver's marital status,caregiver employment status and education degree and children's scores of CARS and degree of CARS( -0.151 ≤ r ≤0.282,P＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionThe data suggest that community care workers should pay attention to caregivers of children with autism and give them personalized health education and intervention according to the demographic characteristics of the caregivers and the severity of children disease.