Determinants of Caregiver Burden: A Comparative Study on Caregiver Burden Among Individuals Providing Care to Physically and Mentally Disabled Individuals

OBJECTIVE: Caregiving for individuals with disabilities significantly affects caregivers' physical, emotional and social well-being. This study investigates whether caregiver burden differs between caregivers of individuals with physical versus mental/psychological disabilities, considering disability severity and further evaluates the impact of general psychological symptom levels and separation anxiety on caregiver burden. METHODS: The study included 121 volunteer participants aged 18 and above, who provided care to individuals with a disability level of 40% or higher, either physical or mental/psychological. Data collection involved a sociodemographic and clinical data form, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-Short Form (DASS-21), the Zarit Burden Care Scale (ZBCS) and the Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA). Statistical analyses were conducted using independent sample t-test and hierarchical linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Caregivers of physically disabled individuals reported significantly higher depression, stress and separation anxiety scores than those caring for mentally/psychologically disabled individuals (p < 0.05). Higher disability severity (≥ 80%) was associated with greater psychological symptoms and caregiver burden (p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that general psychological symptoms predicted higher burden, while separation anxiety predicted lower burden (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver burden is influenced not only by disability type and severity but also by psychological factors of the caregiver, such as general symptom levels and separation anxiety. The findings emphasise the importance of addressing caregivers' emotional needs through targeted psychosocial interventions. Incorporating caregiver-focused support into health and social care policies may help reduce burden, improve psychological well-being and ultimately strengthen the quality of care provided.