Coping Strategies and Burden Dimensions of Family Caregivers for People Diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

(1) Background: Obsessive−compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental disorder that can be a source of emotional, financial and/or social burden for family caregivers. Few studies have investigated family caregiving for patients diagnosed with OCD in relation to the coping strategies being used from a theoretical perspective. This study evaluated the burden and coping strategies of family caregivers for people diagnosed with OCD. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which 123 participants diagnosed with OCD and their caregivers were surveyed using three types of scales: obsessive−compulsive scale; coping scale; and burden scale. (3) Results: Of the participants with OCD and their caregivers, 53% and 31% were male and 47% and 69% were female, respectively. Around 80% of the OCD patients were considered young and their age ranged from 20−40 years old. Forty percent of caregivers in the current study reported a high burden level. The caregivers of those who had severe OCD symptoms had a lower coping level compared to the caregivers of those with less severe symptoms and those urban caregivers were able to better cope than rural caregivers. There was an association between OCD symptom severity and financial, work-related, social and family relationships, mental and health burdens for family caregivers. Meanwhile, the greater coping level of family caregivers, the lesser social and family, mental, and spouse relationship burden (p < 0.05); (4) Conclusions: The family caregivers of people diagnosed with OCD have specific aspects of burden and coping which require support by designing strategic interventions for family caregiver coping.

Keywords: burden; coping; cross-sectional study; family caregivers; obsessive–compulsive disorder.

Figure 1

The Theoretical Framework of Caregiver Burden, Coping Strategies and Distress (adapted from Folkman et al. [6].

Figure 2

Results of the analysis—effects of OCD symptoms on caregiver burden and coping levels. Notes: Liv. Arran. = living arrangements; Social Stat. = social status; Edu. Lev. = education level; Work Stat. = work status; Eco. stat. = socioeconomic level; Kinship = kinship.