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Mental health outcomes and experiences of family caregivers of children with disabilities during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Bolivia
Author(s) -
Urizar Guido G.,
Ramírez Ivonne,
Caicedo Brianna I.,
Mora Cindy
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.22763
Subject(s) - mental health , pandemic , anxiety , stressor , coping (psychology) , psychological intervention , psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , caregiver burden , covid-19 , population , psychiatry , disease , dementia , environmental health , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology
This study examined whether certain demographic characteristics, caregiver strain, and coping behaviors were associated with the mental health outcomes of family caregivers of children with disabilities in Bolivia during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A mixed‐methods convergent study design was used with virtual interviews to quantitatively assess caregivers' demographic characteristics, caregiver strain, coping behaviors, and mental health outcomes, as well as qualitatively assess how the pandemic affected their family. Approximately 32%–71% of caregivers experienced poor mental health outcomes (stress, anxiety, and depression), especially among those experiencing poor health, high caregiver strain, and those using maladaptive coping strategies. Qualitative responses revealed that they experienced several unique stressors during the pandemic that affected them and their children. These findings highlight the need for culturally tailored prevention and treatment interventions to help offset the adverse effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health outcomes of this at‐risk population.