2456 - "NO REST, NO DAYS OFF": A MULTIROLE PERSPECTIVE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS

Session: P_D08S008 - Poster Session 8 - Division 8
AUTHORS:
Daquila Savanna (Trinity College Dublin ~ Dublin ~ Ireland) , Swords Lorraine (Trinity College Dublin ~ Dublin ~ Ireland)
Abstract text:
Introduction: Caregiver burden has emerged as an important area of research within the health sciences, as it seeks to understand how the responsibilities associated with providing care can become overwhelming for the individual in this role. Recent studies have also begun to explore how individuals balance caregiving with other significant life roles, such as employment, to better understand how managing multiple responsibilities affects their well-being. Despite these developments, relatively little is known about how individuals navigate and balance multiple roles simultaneously, a reality that is particularly salient for parents caring for a child with a chronic health condition. Parental informal caregivers are unique in that they exist at the intersection of several roles, including those of parent, caregiver, employee, and spouse. Purpose: Grounded in over 100 perspectives of parental caregivers all over the world, this research aims to further contextualize the lived experience of this population in order to improve our understanding of caregiver burden and improve existing interventions. Method: This research employed mixed methodology, using a combination of validated quantitative measures assessing parental quality of life, work-life satisfaction, and spousal support, which was supported by open-ended questions in which the individual could expand on their experience. Results: Results illuminated the relationship between the various roles and responsibilities parental caregivers must navigate simultaneously and provide context for where additional areas of support would be beneficial. This research has implications for developments in both formal and social support.