Objective: To identify the contribution of psychological burden in life satisfaction among caregivers of HIV Positive and general medical patients.
Methodology: This correlational study was done with using the purposive sampling technique equal representation of both HIV positive and general medical patients’ caregivers were recruited from District Headquarter Hospital Chiniot, Pakistan. The Zarit Burden Interview scale, Life Satisfaction Scale, and a demographic form were applied to assess psychological burden, life satisfaction, and demographic variables, respectively.
Results: The results of bivariate correlation showed that psychological burden had a significant negative relationship with life satisfaction (r=-.44). The results of linear regression analysis found that psychological burden was a significant predictor (R2= .18) of life satisfaction. Independent sample t-test showed that caregivers of HIV patients had a higher psychological burden (M=65.25) and low satisfaction with life (M= 20.16) than caregivers of general medical patients. The comparison between male and female caregivers revealed that female caregivers had a higher psychological burden (M=58.13) and low life satisfaction (M=20.28) than male caregivers.
Conclusion: Psychological burden is a significant predictor of life satisfaction, as psychological burden increases satisfaction with life decreases. Caregivers of HIV patients face more psychological burdens and have low satisfaction with life than caregivers of general medical patients. Female caregivers face more psychological burdens than male caregivers.
Key words: Psychological burden, satisfaction with life, caregivers, HIV positive, general medical patients.
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