Little is known about depressive and anxious symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in caregivers of children with cystic fibrosis (CF). The aims of this study were to: (1) assess rates of female and male caregiver depressive and anxious symptoms, and (2) evaluate relations between depressive and anxious symptoms, caregiver QOL, and health outcomes.
Patients and methods: Eligible participants were caregivers of children with CF who completed three questionnaires assessing depressive and anxious symptoms and caregiver QOL during routine CF Clinic appointments.
Results: Rates of depressive and anxious symptoms were elevated in female and male caregivers of children with CF. Rates were higher for anxious (51% for females, 43% for males) than depressive symptoms (20-28% for females; 14-31% for males). Female caregiver depressive symptoms increased as child lung functioning decreased. As depressive and anxious symptoms increased, caregiver QOL decreased. In addition, female caregiver depressive and anxious symptoms were positively correlated with male caregiver anxious and depressive symptoms in a small subsample of couples. CF disease severity and caregiver depressive symptoms predicted caregiver QOL.
Conclusion: Rates of depressive and anxious symptoms are high among caregivers of children with CF. The results of this study highlight the need to screen for female and male caregiver depressive and anxious symptoms in the CF Clinic as CF Team members are well positioned to provided assistance around solving CF-related challenges. In addition, alleviation of depressive and anxious symptoms could potentially lead to improvements in the psychological functioning and well-being of caregivers of children with CF.