UNEQUAL LOADS: GENDERED EXPERIENCES OF CARING FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL

S. Saxena¹, S. Garg², M. Kumar², M. Kaur³

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Sonam Saxena, Senior Resident, IHBAS, Delhi
Email- dr.sonamsaxena19@gmail.com

Co-authors
Dr. Shruti Garg, Assistant Professor, IHBAS, Delhi
Dr. Manoj Kumar, Assistant Professor, IHBAS, Delhi
Dr. Manjot Kaur, Postgraduate Resident, IHBAS, Delhi

Background and Objectives:
Caregivers of individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) often face considerable emotional, physical, and psychological challenges. These burdens may vary according to patient-related factors, including gender and illness severity. Extended inpatient admissions- particularly those exceeding 30 days- intensify caregiver strain. Female patients with SMI are frequently more reliant on caregivers for daily functioning and emotional regulation, placing additional demands on their families. This study explores gender-based differences in caregiver burden among long-stay inpatients at a tertiary mental health care facility in North India.
Methodology:
This cross-sectional study included 198 primary caregivers of patients admitted for over 30 days under Section 90 of the Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA), 2017, at a tertiary care center in Delhi. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, including diagnosis, illness duration, and patient gender, were collected using a semi-structured proforma. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) was administered to assess caregiver burden.
Results:
Caregivers of female patients (n = 86) reported significantly higher ZBI scores (mean = 47.2 ± 10.5) compared to those of male patients (n = 112, mean = 41.7 ± 9.3), with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.003). Burden was notably higher among caregivers of female patients across emotional, financial, and time-dependence domains (p = 0.002, 0.01, and 0.03, respectively). Moderate burden levels were most common in both groups, while mild burden was more frequent among caregivers of male patients. Multivariate regression identified patient gender, illness severity, and caregiver socioeconomic status as significant predictors of burden (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Greater caregiving burden among those caring for female patients underscores the need for gender-responsive support strategies to alleviate caregiver stress and enhance patient outcomes.
Keywords:
Caregiver burden, gender differences, severe mental illness, mental healthcare act

Dr. Sonam Saxena