ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, with survivors often relying on informal caregivers for both physical and emotional support. However, caregiving can impose significant strain on caregivers, potentially affecting their quality of life. It is crucial to examine the burden on informal caregivers and its impact on their well-being. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the burden experienced by informal caregivers of stroke survivors and examine the relationship between caregiving burden and the caregivers’ quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS A convenience sampling method was used to select informal caregivers who worked over 7 hours per day and cared for stroke survivors for 3-12 months. The Modified Caregiver Strain Index (MCSI) was used to measure caregiver burden, while the WHOQOL-BREF assessed the caregivers' quality of life. RESULTS The sample comprised 57.69% females and 42.31% males, with 75% of participants aged between 30 and 45 years. Key findings included 42.02% of caregivers consistently experiencing challengessuch as sleep disturbances, physical strain, and emotional changes. Meanwhile, 51.92% encounter these issues occasionally, while 6.05% do not face such difficulties. A Pearson correlation test between MCSI and WHOQOL-BREF showed a very weak positive correlation (r = 0.121), which was not statistically significant (p = 0.392). CONCLUSION Caregivers experienced significant strain across physical, emotional, and financial domains. However, the connection between caregiver burden and quality of life was weak and not statistically significant, indicating no substantial relationship. Keywords: Stroke survivor, Informal caregivers, Burden, and Quality of life
Publication date: 01/04/2026

https://www.ijbpas.com/pdf/2026/April/MS_IJBPAS_2026_10112.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2026/15.4.10112