Relationship between Self-efficacy and Perceived Burden among Schizophrenic Patients' Caregivers

Context: Caregiver burden is high in schizophrenia. Self-efficacy is an emotional and behavioral response to such stressors.

Aims: The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between self-efficacy and the perceived’ burden among schizophrenic patients’ caregivers.

Setting and Design: A total of 384 schizophrenic patients’ caregivers referring to a psychiatry Clinic in Sari, Iran, were selected via convenient sampling, for this descriptive correlational study.

Materials and Methods: The caregivers filled the demographic questionnaire (the patient and the caregivers), the Zarit burden interview, and the general self-efficacy scale.

Statistical Analysis Used: Using SPPS 20 software, the demographics of the caregivers were compared using Chi-square tests for categorical data and t‑tests for continuous data. Pearson’s correlation and regression method were applied after normality testing (P > 0.05).

Results: Among 40.5%, 38.7%, and 7.7% of the caregivers, the burden was mild-to-average, average-to-severe, and highly severe, respectively. The mean of caregivers’ self-efficacy and burden was 28.79 ± 5.60 and 40.11 ± 13.60, respectively. Furthermore, the burden had significant relationship with the patient’s disease duration and income, caregiver’s educational level, job, economic status, and relationship with the patient (P < 0.05). Besides, the caregivers’ self-efficacy had meaningful relationship with the patient’s gender, income potential, housing status, and with the caregiver’s age, gender, educational level, job, housing status, economic status, and relationship with the patient (P < 0.05). The relationship between caregivers’ burden and self-efficacy was significantly negative (r = −0.445, P = 0.001).

Conclusion: When the self-efficacy increases, the caregiver’s burden decreases. The importance of economic status of the caregivers and the patient requires special attention.