INVESTIGATION STRESS LEVEL, PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL SUPPORT, CAREGIVING BURDEN AND CORONAPHOBIA OF CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Purpose: The perception of caregiving burden and social support is essential for caregivers in chronic disease management. This study aimed to examine the level of perceived stress, social support, coronaphobia and care burden of caregivers of patients with CF.
Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted during the pandemic, included eleven mothers of children with CF and twelve mothers of healthy children. The perceived stress level (Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)), perceived social support (Multidimensional Perceived Support Scale (MDPSS)), coronaphobia (The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19)), and caregiver burden (Burden Interview (BI)) were evaluated.
Results: The perceived stress level was significantly higher in the mothers of healthy children (p = 0.016). The level of coronaphobia was similar in both groups. PSS score among mothers who have a child with CF was related to the caregiving burden (r = 0.710; p = 0.014), MDASDS friends subscores (r = -0.697; p = 0.017), and MDASDS total scores (r = -0.839; p = 0.001). In addition, the caregiving burden of mothers in this group was correlated with MDASDS family subscores (= -0.627; p= 0.039).
Discussion: Although the burden of caregiving and coronaphobia were similar in both groups, the perceived stress level of mothers with a healthy child was higher. Perceived social support is negatively associated with perceived stress and care burden. Evaluating the perception of social support in families of individuals with CF may help to reduce the stress and care burden perceived by caregivers in the face of sudden, unexpected events.