The Illness, Stigma, Culture, or Immigration? Burdens on Chinese American Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

In this study, the author investigates the burden of 30 Chinese American caregivers of patients with schizophrenia using both quantitative and qualitative data. The relatives experienced enormous burden because of being intensely involved in patient care. Burdens were strongly positively related to family conflicts. In the literature, conflicts among caregivers have rarely been examined, but these conflicts seem particularly important to Chinese families because of the intense involvement of more than 1 member in caregiving. The significant relationship between length of stay in the United States and burden is perhaps related to caregivers' sense of mastery in language and knowledge of community resources in coping with stress.