Caregivers Burden as Risk Factor against Quality of Life of Caregivers of Cerebral Palsy Patients: Moderating Role of Social Support

The consequences of living with a chronic condition such as Cerebral Palsy (CP) do not only affect the child but other members of the family. However, researchers have neglected the caregivers in their quest for the consequences of the disorder. The present study investigated the impact of caregiver’s burden on quality of life (QoL) of caregivers. The role of social support in ameliorating the negative consequences of the caregiver’s burden on QoL of the caregivers was also assessed. One hundred and thirty (130) caregivers in two government hospitals and two Non-governmental agencies were conveniently selected to complete the Caregivers Burden Inventory (CBS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Support (MSPS) and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Pearson correlation and regression analysis were the statistical tools used for data analysis. The findings revealed that caregiver burden has a significant negative correlation with QoL of caregivers. Social support moderated the relationship between caregiver’s burden and QoL. The implication of the findings for nursing practice and informal caregiving are discussed.