Work

The mediating role of caregiver guilt in the relationship between stroke patients’ functional status and caregiver burden: A correlational study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Stroke, a leading cause of disability, significantly burdens caregivers. Increased patient dependency correlates with higher caregiver burden, potentially exacerbated by guilt. We examined the interplay between patient self-care, caregiver guilt, and burden to guide intervention strategies. Objective: To investigate the mediating role of caregiver guilt in the relationship between activities of daily living and caregiver burden in stroke patients. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Methods: From July 2024 to February 2025, 312 pairs of stroke patients and caregivers were recruited from three medical centers in the Wuling Mountain region in China. Data collection utilized questionnaires, including the Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (Chinese adaptation), the Caregiver Guilt Scale (Chinese version), and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. Results: <0.05). Caregiver guilt positively correlated with burden and partially mediated the relationship between the ability to perform activities of daily living and caregiver burden, with an effect size of 62.56%. Conclusions: The patient's ability to perform activities of daily living was associated with caregiver burden through caregiver guilt. Interventions might consider targeting the caregiver's guilt while promoting the patient's activities of daily living recovery. A dual "patient-caregiver" evaluation approach may mitigate guilt and reduce caregiver burden.

Source: International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnsa.2025.100437