Cultural aspects of caregiver burden in psychiatric disorders

Core Tip

Core tip: The cultural context shapes the entirety of the caregiving experience and its outcomes. Important differences have been identified in the extent of caregiving, caregiver burden and distress, attitudes and norms influencing caregiving, appraisal, coping, help-seeking, and social support, between caregivers belonging to diverse ethnic and cultural groups. Familial-cultural factors seem to be the principal determinants of caregiving outcomes, though they appear to influence burden and distress in complicated, and yet unclear ways. Since an understanding of the role of culture in caregiving is an essential first step towards helping lower burden among caregivers from different cultural and ethnic groups, more research is required in this area.