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The Objective and Subjective Caregiving Burden and Caregiving Behaviours of Parents of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa
Author(s) -
Rhind Charlotte,
Salerno Laura,
Hibbs Rebecca,
Micali Nadia,
Schmidt Ulrike,
Gowers Simon,
Macdonald Pamela,
Goddard Elizabeth,
Todd Gillian,
Tchanturia Kate,
Lo Coco Gianluca,
Treasure Janet
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.2442
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , eating disorders , distress , psychology , clinical psychology , anorexia , emotional distress , caregiver burden , psychiatry , medicine , anxiety , dementia , disease , pathology
Objective The study aimed to examine caregiving burden and levels of distress, accommodating behaviours, expressed emotion (EE) and carers' skills, in parents of adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Method A semi‐structured interview assessed the objective burden (time spent across caregiving tasks) in parents ( n = 196) of adolescents ( n = 144) receiving outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa. Subjective burden (carers' distress), accommodating behaviours, EE and carers' skills were measured by self‐report. Results Mothers, on average, spent 2.5 h/day of care, mainly providing food and emotional support, compared with 1 h/day by fathers. The level of distress and accommodating behaviour was significantly lower in fathers than in mothers. Accommodating behaviours mediated the relationship between objective burden and subjective burden in mothers, whereas EE and carers' skills did not mediate this relationship for either parent. Discussion The objective burden for most mothers is high. In order to reduce subjective burden, it may be helpful to target accommodating behaviours. Trial Registration ISRCTN83003225 ‐ Expert Carers Helping Others (ECHO). Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association