Predictors of Mental Health among Informal Caregivers of Stroke Patients

Abstract

Learning to live with and take care of a family member with stroke is immensely complex and demanding. Without appropriate support and coping strategies, informal caregivers are at risk of their own general health decreasing thus becoming a patient themselves. The study therefore examined predictors of mental health among informal caregivers of stroke patients /survivors. A sample of one hundred (150) participants were purposively sampled using a cross sectional research design at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The results was analyzed using Independent samples t-Test, Pearson product moment r and multiple regression to identify and predict the relationships between the variables. The Findings suggest that informal caregivers of stroke patients and non-caregivers did not differ on psychological wellbeing. However, informal caregivers of stroke patients experienced psychological distress than the non-caregivers. Older and younger informal caregivers of stroke patients differed on psychological wellbeing (age predicted psychological distress). A positive significant relationship existed between negative religious coping and psychological wellbeing and a significant negative relationship with psychological distress. Stress did not moderate the relationship between social support, religious coping and psychological distress. Findings, implications and limitations are discussed in relation to theories and recommendations for future work.