McLachlan LM, Engster S, Winger JG, Haupt A, Levin-Decanini T, Decker M, Noll RB, Yu JA. Self-Reported Well-Being of Family Caregivers of Children with Medical Complexity.
Acad Pediatr 2024:S1876-2859(24)00145-1. [PMID:
38609015 DOI:
10.1016/j.acap.2024.04.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Provide an in-depth and psychometrically rigorous profile of the emotional well-being and sleep-related health of family caregivers of children with medical complexity (CMC).
METHODS
Cross-sectional survey study of family caregivers of CMC receiving care from a pediatric complex care center between May 2021 and March 2022. Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Short-Forms (PROMIS-SF) assessed global mental health, emotional distress (anxiety, depression, anger), psychological strengths (self-efficacy, emotional regulation, meaning and purpose), and sleep-related health (fatigue, sleep-related impairment). Student's t-tests compared the sample's mean T-scores to US population norms. Pearson's correlation coefficient (ρ) examined associations between measures of psychological strengths and emotional distress. Unadjusted linear regression analyses explored relationships between well-being outcomes and child and caregiver characteristics.
RESULTS
Compared to US population norms, caregivers of CMC (n = 143) reported significantly lower global mental health and emotional regulation ability as well as elevated symptoms of anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and sleep-related impairment (all P < .01). Whereas participants reported a significantly higher sense of meaning and purpose (P < .05), levels of self-efficacy were not significantly different from population norms. We observed moderate-to-strong inverse relationships between psychological strengths and emotional distress (ρ range, -0.39 to -0.69); with the strongest inverse associations found between emotional regulation ability and emotional distress. In exploratory analyses, caregiver race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and child health insurance type were significantly associated with caregiver well-being.
CONCLUSION
Family caregivers of CMC report poor well-being, most notably, increased symptoms of anxiety and reduced global mental health and sleep-related health.
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