Relationship between psychological distress, appraisal of caregiving experience and illness perception among family caregivers of patients with psychosis

Abstract

Objective: The current study aimed to examine the psychological distress of family caregivers of patients with psychosis following a stress-coping model as well as a self-regulation model. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in a psychiatric out-patient clinic of a local hospital. 26 caregivers were recruited. Associations among their psychological distress, appraisal of caregiving experience, illness perception, coping style and care burden were explored. Results: Psychological distress was found to be significantly correlated to negative appraisal of caregiving, perceived consequences on patient, perceived consequences on relative, perceived control by relative and care burden. Preliminary analysis showed that a combination of four factors, including negative appraisal of caregiving, perceived consequences on relative, perceived control by relative and care burden, significantly predicted psychological distress (〖R 〗^2= 0.36, F(4,21) = 2.97, p < 0.05). Among the predictors, negative appraisal of caregiving was the single strongest predictor of distress (〖R 〗^2 = 0.28, F(1,24) = 9.18, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The psychological wellbeing of family caregivers were influenced by both factors suggested by the stress-coping model and the self-regulation model. Findings from the present study provided preliminary evidence for developing caregiver-centered intervention that focused on appraisal of caregiving experience and illness perception in order to reduce the distress of caregivers. Further studies would be recommended to explore and differentiate the impact of appraisal of caregiving, coping style and illness perception on psychological distress in the caregiving experience for patients with psychosis.