Dimensions of Caregiver Burden between Compound and Noncompound Caregivers of Adults with Autism

The expanding population of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will increase the number of aging parents who often assume the role of primary caregivers. Among aging caregivers of adults with ASD, compound caregiving (caring for additional family members) has become an increasingly common scenario. However, limited research has examined the burden of compound caregivers and little is known about the specific dimensions of burden among this population. The present study aims to compare differences between compound 1, compound 2, and noncompound caregivers on specific dimensions of caregiver burden associated with adult children with ASD. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 320 caregivers aged 50 and older through a web-based survey. Four dimensions of burden (time dependence, developmental, emotional, and financial) were compared using MANOVA. Compound 1 and noncompound caregivers experienced lower levels of time dependence burden than compound 2 caregivers. In terms of developmental burden, the social life of compound 2 caregivers was more affected by caregiving compared to noncompound caregivers. The findings have practice implications for identifying caregivers' multiple responsibilities and the multi-faceted impact of caregiving, and prioritizing interventions for compound caregivers and its subpopulations to reduce their time and developmental burden.