Relationship between Care Burden, Social Support and Quality of Life in Caregivers of Individual with Stroke

Abstract

Objective: This study was carried out as descriptive and cross- sectional survey to investigate the relationship between care burden, social support and quality of life in caregivers of individuals with stroke. Methods: The study sample comprised 216 caregivers of individuals with stroke. Personal Information Form, Zarit Burden Scale, World Health Organisation Quality of Life Instrument brief version and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Scale were used to collect the study data. The frequency, percentage, and mean values were estimated, and also Kruskal-Wallis T test and Pearson correlation test were used to analyze the data. Results: It was found that caregivers of individuals with stroke had moderate levels of care burden and social support while their quality of life was low. There was a positive correlation between quality of life and social support scores, and a significant negative correlation between care burden and quality of life or social support scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: Caregivers of individuals with stroke have a moderate level of care burden, low quality of life, and they receive moderate levels of social support. There is a relationship between care burden, quality of life and social support. Individuals experiencing advanced and extreme care burden perceive low levels of social support.