中華心理衛生協會

This research project is a first ever cross-cultural and cross-national study of family caregiver burden imposed by the serious and chronically mentally ill. In total, 122 caregivers were interviewed in Taipei, Taiwan and Los Angeles, Callifornia in the summer and winter of 1991. Fifty-two caregivers were Chinese Living in Los Angeles; 35 caregivers were Chinese living in los Angeles; 35 caregivers were Caucasians living in Los Angeles. Eight separate bio-psycho-social variables were measured and administered to each subject and the findings along with demographic variables were analyzed by using t-test, Standarized Regression, and Correlation Analysis. The total caregiver burden was the same for each of the three caregiver groups but there were considerable differences in the path of bio-psychosoceal variables contributing to burden. These differences indicate that Perception, Stressor and Resource Variables play unique and apparently culturally-determined roles in care-giver burden and this in turn points to the importance of cultural issues in formulating treatment and support services for the mentally ill and their family caregivers. Findings in this research also raise the possibility of strategic interventions aimed at alleviating the specific burden-producing circumstances for individuals and groups of caregivers.