Version 1
: Received: 13 December 2023 / Approved: 14 December 2023 / Online: 14 December 2023 (15:32:32 CET)
Version 2
: Received: 14 December 2023 / Approved: 15 December 2023 / Online: 15 December 2023 (12:16:47 CET)
Oikonomou, V.; Gkintoni, E.; Halkiopoulos, C.; Karademas, E.C. Quality of Life and Incidence of Clinical Signs and Symptoms among Caregivers of Persons with Mental Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare2024, 12, 269.
Oikonomou, V.; Gkintoni, E.; Halkiopoulos, C.; Karademas, E.C. Quality of Life and Incidence of Clinical Signs and Symptoms among Caregivers of Persons with Mental Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare 2024, 12, 269.
Oikonomou, V.; Gkintoni, E.; Halkiopoulos, C.; Karademas, E.C. Quality of Life and Incidence of Clinical Signs and Symptoms among Caregivers of Persons with Mental Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare2024, 12, 269.
Oikonomou, V.; Gkintoni, E.; Halkiopoulos, C.; Karademas, E.C. Quality of Life and Incidence of Clinical Signs and Symptoms among Caregivers of Persons with Mental Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare 2024, 12, 269.
Abstract
Background: Caring for individuals with mental disorders poses significant challenges for caregivers, often leading to compromised quality of life and mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression. This study aims to assess the extent of these challenges among caregivers in Greece, identifying which demographic factors influence their well-being. Method: A total of 157 caregivers were surveyed using the SF-12 Health Survey for quality of life assessment and the DASS-21 questionnaire for evaluating stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. T-tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and regression analyses were applied to understand the associations between demographics, quality of life, and mental health outcomes. Results: The study found that caregivers, especially women and younger individuals, faced high levels of mental health challenges. Marital status, educational level, and employment status also significantly influenced caregivers' well-being. Depression was the most significant factor negatively correlating with the mental component of quality of life. The magnitude of burden experienced by caregivers highlighted the urgency for targeted social and financial support, as well as strategic treatment programs that consider caregiver well-being. Conclusions: Caregivers of individuals with mental disorders endure significant stress, anxiety, and depression, influencing their quality of life. Demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, education, and employment status have notable impacts. Findings emphasize the need for society-wide recognition of caregivers' roles and the creation of comprehensive support and intervention programs to alleviate their burden, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords
clinical symptoms; caregivers; mental disorders; quality of life; stress; anxiety; depression; social support
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Primary Health Care
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Commenter: Evgenia Gkintoni
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author