Article

Although considerable research has been carried out on family caregivers of
individuals with various types of disabilities, spinal cord injury (SCI)
caregivers have received considerably less attention in terms of research,
especially in regions such as Latin America. This study examined the relationship
between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with SCI and their
family caregiver's mental health in Neiva, Colombia. Thirty-four individuals with
SCI and their primary caregivers (34 dyads; n=68) from the Foundation for the
Integral Development of People with Disabilities in Neiva, Colombia, were
included in this study. Individuals with SCI completed eight subscales of the
SF-36 that assessed HRQOL. Five aspects of caregiver mental health were assessed,
including burden (Zarit Burden Interview), satisfaction with life (Satisfaction
with Life Scale), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), self-esteem
(Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory). A
series of multiple regressions uncovered strong associations among the HRQOL of
individuals with SCI and various aspects of caregiver mental health. In these
regressions, patient physical functioning and pain were independently related to
caregiver burden; patient pain and general health were independently related to
caregiver satisfaction with life; and patient pain was independently related to
caregiver anxiety. HRQOL in individuals with SCI was robustly related to their
caregiver's mental health, suggesting that the two sets of variables are closely
linked. These findings suggest that caregiver mental health should be a central
part of SCI rehabilitation interventions, especially in Latin America.

Langue : ANGLAIS