Caregiver Stress

Caregiver stress (caregiver burden) is defined as the physical, mental, social, and economic problems experienced by caregivers of individuals with chronic disease, disability, or both. Caregiver stress can be divided into objective and subjective burden. Objective burden refers to the extent to which the care relationship imposes on observable aspects of a caregiver’s life (such as loss of privacy or restrictions in the work role). Subjective burden refers to the caregiver’s response to the objective burden, such as feelings of distress and overload, resentments, and perceived inability to cope. This entry describes the assessment of caregiver stress, risk factors for being stressed, consequences of caregiver burden, and interventions aimed at reducing stress levels of caregivers.

Providing care can be considered as a lifelong process, such as ...