Preliminary Findings of Caregivers’ Burden among Parents of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory Study
Background: The multifactoriality of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and the specificity of the treatment that provides for the compliance of parents (caregivers) is consolidated in the scientific literature. Caregivers’ burden, in addition to negatively affecting parents’ Quality of Life (QoL), can act as a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Youth |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/2/3/20 |
| _version_ | 1797463754295738368 |
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| author | Luna Carpinelli Giulia Savarese Giorgia Bruno Valentina Pomposelli |
| author_facet | Luna Carpinelli Giulia Savarese Giorgia Bruno Valentina Pomposelli |
| author_sort | Luna Carpinelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The multifactoriality of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and the specificity of the treatment that provides for the compliance of parents (caregivers) is consolidated in the scientific literature. Caregivers’ burden, in addition to negatively affecting parents’ Quality of Life (QoL), can act as a maintenance factor for the disorder itself. Aim: Within a much broader research project, this work focuses on a preliminary analysis of the presence and level of burden in couples of parents of adolescents with Eating Disorders (EDs) and related variables. Methods: At a clinic dedicated to EDs, three couples of parents (mean age = 47.50; SD = 2.73) of three female patients with AN (mean age = 16; SD = 1.78), prior to taking charge, which includes protocol, psychoeducation, and family psychotherapy meetings. Caregivers completed a questionnaire consisting of standardized screening tests for assessing psychological assets: (a) Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), (b) Family Strain Questionnaire—Short Form (FSQ-SF), (c) Resilience Scale (RS), and (d) semi-structured interview. Results: High levels of anxiety (18 ± 6.9), stress (13.33 ± 10.26), and depression (12 ± 6.9) are found in mother caregivers, while father caregivers are more resilient (57.33 ± 8.5). A high level of caregivers’ burden was associated with being unemployed (3.33 ± 2.51), being a mother (4.33 ± 1.52), and with a highly pathological patient to care for (3 ± 4.24). Conclusions: Evaluating family caregivers of ED patients for risk factors of burden allows them to offer care and reduce the perceived stress of care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:55:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ceeeeb52f354e84aec1a6507f40fbea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-995X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:55:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Youth |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ceeeeb52f354e84aec1a6507f40fbea2023-11-24T10:23:29ZengMDPI AGYouth2673-995X2022-07-012327928410.3390/youth2030020Preliminary Findings of Caregivers’ Burden among Parents of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory StudyLuna Carpinelli0Giulia Savarese1Giorgia Bruno2Valentina Pomposelli3Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyBackground: The multifactoriality of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and the specificity of the treatment that provides for the compliance of parents (caregivers) is consolidated in the scientific literature. Caregivers’ burden, in addition to negatively affecting parents’ Quality of Life (QoL), can act as a maintenance factor for the disorder itself. Aim: Within a much broader research project, this work focuses on a preliminary analysis of the presence and level of burden in couples of parents of adolescents with Eating Disorders (EDs) and related variables. Methods: At a clinic dedicated to EDs, three couples of parents (mean age = 47.50; SD = 2.73) of three female patients with AN (mean age = 16; SD = 1.78), prior to taking charge, which includes protocol, psychoeducation, and family psychotherapy meetings. Caregivers completed a questionnaire consisting of standardized screening tests for assessing psychological assets: (a) Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), (b) Family Strain Questionnaire—Short Form (FSQ-SF), (c) Resilience Scale (RS), and (d) semi-structured interview. Results: High levels of anxiety (18 ± 6.9), stress (13.33 ± 10.26), and depression (12 ± 6.9) are found in mother caregivers, while father caregivers are more resilient (57.33 ± 8.5). A high level of caregivers’ burden was associated with being unemployed (3.33 ± 2.51), being a mother (4.33 ± 1.52), and with a highly pathological patient to care for (3 ± 4.24). Conclusions: Evaluating family caregivers of ED patients for risk factors of burden allows them to offer care and reduce the perceived stress of care.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/2/3/20adolescentseating disordersemotional caregivers’ burdenanorexia nervosa |
| spellingShingle | Luna Carpinelli Giulia Savarese Giorgia Bruno Valentina Pomposelli Preliminary Findings of Caregivers’ Burden among Parents of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory Study Youth adolescents eating disorders emotional caregivers’ burden anorexia nervosa |
| title | Preliminary Findings of Caregivers’ Burden among Parents of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory Study |
| title_full | Preliminary Findings of Caregivers’ Burden among Parents of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory Study |
| title_fullStr | Preliminary Findings of Caregivers’ Burden among Parents of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preliminary Findings of Caregivers’ Burden among Parents of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory Study |
| title_short | Preliminary Findings of Caregivers’ Burden among Parents of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory Study |
| title_sort | preliminary findings of caregivers burden among parents of adolescents with anorexia nervosa an exploratory study |
| topic | adolescents eating disorders emotional caregivers’ burden anorexia nervosa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/2/3/20 |
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