Resiliency is independently associated with greater quality of life among informal caregivers to neuroscience intensive care unit patients

Abstract

Objective: Every year, millions of Americans become informal caregivers to loved ones admitted to Neuroscience Intensive Care Units (Neuro-ICU), and face challenges to Quality of Life (QoL). This study sought to identify associations between resiliency, distress, and caregiver QoL at time of Neuro-ICU admission.

Methods: Informal caregivers (N = 79, M_age = 53, 64% female) of Neuro-ICU patients were recruited and completed self-report questionnaires during the hospitalization. We used hierarchical regression to test relative contributions of caregiver mindfulness, perceived coping abilities, and preparedness for caregiving to caregiver QoL, above-and-beyond non-modifiable patient and caregiver factors (e.g., gender) and caregiver psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, history of mental health conditions).

Results: Preparedness for caregiving was uniquely and positively associated with Physical Health QoL (sr² = 0.07, p = 0.001), Social QoL (sr² = 0.05, p = 0.021), and Environmental QoL (sr2 = 0.14, p < 0.001), even after accounting for psychological distress. Mindfulness was uniquely and positively associated with Physical Health QoL (sr² = 0.12, p < 0.001) and Psychological QoL (sr² = 0.07, p = 0.004), above-and-beyond variance accounted for by psychological distress.

Conclusions: Mindfulness and preparedness for caregiving emerged as consistent, unique resiliency factors associated with greater caregiver QoL across QoL dimensions. Results highlight the importance of resiliency factors in QoL among Neuro-ICU caregivers and the need for early interventions to support resiliency.

Keywords: Adaptation; Caregivers; Intensive care units; Mindfulness; Neurology; Quality of life.