To investigate the relationships between caregivers' stress, depression, and self-esteem in caregivers of individuals with a disability in Singapore

• Main Author: Ng, Alvin Guo Kai
• Other Authors: -
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Science::General
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/162644
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The experience involved in providing care and support for a person with a disability is often challenging. This study further investigates the relationship between the multi-dimensional aspect of caregivers’ stress, depression, and self-esteem of caregivers of individuals with a disability. It was hypothesized that the total caregivers’ stress was positively correlated to depression and negatively correlated to self-esteem. Fourteen participants, specifically caregivers of an individual with a disability, were recruited from an inclusive sports cooperative based in Singapore. Participants completed three questionnaires as part of the study: (1) Caregiver Burden Inventory, (2) Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and (3) Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to investigate correlations between the three variables. While the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to investigate the associations between participants’ demographics with the three variables. A significant correlation was observed between total caregivers’ stress with ‘Developmental Burden’ (r(12) = .78, p = .001), ‘Social Burden’ (r(12) = .74, p = .003), and ‘Emotional Burden’ (r(12) = .74, p = .002). ‘Highest Academic Education’ was found to have a significant effect on total caregivers’ stress (H(3) = 7.96, p < 0.05). A post hoc test revealed a significant difference in total caregivers’ stress between participants with ‘GCE ‘O’ Level’ and participants with ‘Bachelor’s Degree or Higher’ as their highest academic qualification (U = .00, r = -0.25). In conclusion, ‘Developmental Burden’, ‘Social Burden’, and ‘Emotional Burden’ are significant predictors of total caregivers’ stress. Education level can also help manage stress from caregiving. Keywords: Burden, Caregivers’ Stress, Depression, Disability.