The Care Burden And Positive Feelings Status And Their Influenced Factors Analysis For Caregivers Of The Children With Autism

ObjectivesDescribing the condition of burden and positive feelings of caregivers to take care of the children with autism, and further exploring their influencing factorsMethods200 caregivers of children with autism who were in psychological behavior center of a specialized subject hospital of Henan between September 2014 and March 2015 were conveniently selected and investigated with Caregiver Burden Inventory(CBI), Positive Aspects of Caregiver(PAC), Family Assessment Device(FAD), Coping Style Questionnaire(CSQ) and General Information Questionnaire(GIQ). Statistic analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0. Statistic methods included descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way analysis of variance(one-way ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.Results 1. Included in the standard, 200 caregivers of children with autism filled in the questionnaire in the survey, and 198 questionnaires were taken back, four invalid questionnaires were knocked out, and finally, effective recovery rate was 97%.2. The mean score of CBI of 194 caregivers was(62.40±11.45), and its theoretical value range of 0-96 points, the dimension scores from high to low in turn were emotional burden(14.78 ± 3.04), physiological burden(14.77±2.21), time dependence burden(11.52±3.17), social burden(11.51±3.17) and the development limited burden(9.84±3.14).3. Single factor analysis results showed that the difference of the scores of CBI of caregivers during the different ages of caregivers of children with autism, monthly family income and the different age of children and the different medical expenses payment were statistically significant(P < 0.05); Correlation analysis result showed that the score of CBI of caregivers were positively correlated with the different dimensions of family functions and negative coping style(P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with positive coping style(P < 0.01).4. With the total score of CBI of caregivers of children with autism as the dependent variable, and the variables which was statistically significant by single factor analysis and was relevant to the burden score of caring as independent variables, then proceeding multiple linear regression analysis. The analysis results showed that the overall function of family, communication, family role and negative coping styles factor into the regression equation, the regression equation which could explain 69.4% the degree of variation of the care burden of caregivers of children with autism was predictive for the score of care burden of caregivers of children with autism(P < 0.01).5. The total score of the positive experience of parents of children with autism was(25.10±5.65), and the score of the self-esteem dimension was(15.52±2.79) points, and the score of life outlook dimension was(9.59±3.38).6. Single factor analysis results showed that the scores of CBI of caregivers during the relations between children and caregiver, the main caregiver or not, the caregiver’s education level, with religion or not, the caregivers’ profession, monthly family income, place of residence, and the age of children with autism, the medical fee payment were statistically different(P < 0.05). And related analysis results showed that the autism caregivers positive feelings scores of the caregivers of children with autism were positively related to positive coping styles(P < 0.01), and were negatively correlated with the various dimensions of family functioning and negative coping styles(P < 0.01).7. With the total score of positive feeling of caregivers of children with autism as the dependent variable, and the variables which was statistically significant by single factor analysis and was relevant to the burden score of caring as independent variables, then proceeding multiple linear regression analysis. The multiple linear regression analysis results showed that the general family function, emotional reactions and behavioral control, and positive coping styles, caregivers’ education level, caregivers’ presence of religion, and medical expense payment were the major influencing factors for the positive feeling of caregivers of children with autism(P < 0.01), and the regression model could account for 70.3% of the variance in total the positive feelings of caregivers of children with autism.Conclusion1. The burden of caregivers to take care of the children with autism is heavy, which needs guidance and help. In addition, the total family function, communication, family roles and negative coping styles are the main factors that affecting the CBI score of caregivers of children with autism.2. The positive feelings score of caregivers of children with autism is low, which is in the medium to low level, and the multiple linear regression analysis results shows that the general family function, emotional reactions and behavioral control, and positive coping styles, caregivers’ education level, caregivers’ presence of religion, and medical expense payment are the major influencing factors for the positive feeling of caregivers of children with autism.