Abstract

Caregiver burden results from the stress that parents feel due to their responsibilities as a caregiver. This study was performed to analyze a proposed model of variables that predict caregiver burden of parents raising a child with type 1 diabetes, as well as determine differences in mothers' and fathers' models of caregiver burden. The predictor variables of caregiver burden were based on mothers and fathers perceptions of marital conflict, marital satisfaction, depression, child externalizing behaviors, number of children in the family, and family income. The results showed that for mothers, marital conflict, depression, and child externalizing behaviors had significant direct relationships to caregiver burden. For fathers, marital satisfaction, depression, and income had significant direct relationships to caregiver burden. The gender comparison showed a difference in the relationships of depression, marital conflict, and marital satisfaction with caregiver burden for mothers and fathers. Marital satisfaction had a stronger relationship with fathers' caregiver burden than with mothers', and marital conflict had a stronger relationship with mothers' caregiver burden than fathers' caregiver burden. Depression was significantly related to both mothers' and fathers' caregiver burden with fathers' depression having the stronger association with caregiver burden. These findings provide an increased understanding of the caregiver burden of parents who have a child with diabetes.

Degree

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Family Life; Marriage, Family, and Human Development

Rights

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