Emotional burden and family functioning among caregivers of individuals with eating disorders

The involvement of a caregiver is fundamental in the process of caring for a person with eating disorders (ED). The aim of this study is to evaluate the functioning of family unit and the emotional burden of caregivers of individuals with ED treated at an outpatient service.

We contacted by telephone the caregivers of individuals in care at ED Centre of the AUSL-Modena and selected a sample of 50 caregivers of 42 individuals with ED, who provided their informed consent. The following scales were administered to caregivers: caregiver burden inventory (CBI), Beck's depression inventory (BDI), family assessment device (FAD), depression, anxiety and stress-scale (DASS-21). The following scales were administered to the care recipients: global assessment of functioning and clinical global impression severity scale. Demographic variables relating to the individuals with ED and their caregivers were collected: sex, age, employment situation, marital status, number of family members, living condition, family role. Clinical variables of care recipients were collected: body mass index, ED diagnosis, duration of ED and treatment and care at ED centre, medical complications, psychiatric comorbidities, substance use. The data was statistically analyzed.

All caregivers were the parents of individuals with ED, in particular the mother (76%), and were employed. Caregivers reported a mild to moderate emotional burden in CBI and mild to severe depressive symptoms in BDI in 62% of cases. Family functioning reported by FAD scale was slightly altered in the areas of "communication", "roles" and "affective involvement". Most care recipients were females (98%), suffering from anorexia nervosa (85.6%) with an average age of 18.54 ± 4.74. At multiple linear regression, two statistically significant associations were underscored with CBI score (dependent variable): the age of individuals in a negative way and the psychiatric comorbidities of the individuals with ED in a positive way.

The parents of sons with ED represented their caregivers, who suffered from a mild emotional burden and depressive symptoms and lived in altered family functioning, especially in communications. Ensuring psychological support for the caregiver may be useful for improving both caring and family relationships.