Psychosocial Predictors of Quality of Life among Caregivers of Chronically Ill Children in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the psychosocial predictors of quality of life among caregivers of chronically ill children in the University College Hospital, Ibadan Using the Zarit burden interview ZBI, World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief WHOQOL-BREF and Zung self-rating anxiety scale. 234 caregivers participated in the study, 64 were males (28.4%) while 170 were females (72.6%). Participants’ ages ranged from 21 to 70 years with a mean age of 31. The study adopted the survey design. Results indicated that caregivers of chronically ill children reported elevated scores of stress on quality of life (t(232)=3.75, P<.05) with high score mean of (X=88.42),QOL (X= 96.53) and lower scores of anxiety on quality of life (t(232)=1.25, P>.05). There was no significant difference in the quality of life of male and female caregivers (t (232)=0.347, P>.05.). Marital status did not have a significant positive relationship with quality of life (r(234)=-0.274, P<.01), while stress and anxiety jointly predicted quality of life (F=22.43, P <.05; R= 0.40; R² = 0.16); stress independently predicted quality of life (β= -0.41, t= -6.52, P<.05). It was concluded that assisting caregivers to reduce the burden of caring for their wards will benefit their psychological health and total wellbeing. Interventions are necessary to help caregivers choose healthy coping strategies and adjust to caring for their children with chronic illness.

Key words: Caregivers, Chronic illness, Quality of life, Stress, Anxiety, Psycho-social variables