Objective To investigate the current status of caregiver burden, social support, and quality of life among family caregivers of patients with recurrent schizophrenia, analyze the correlations among these three factors, and identify the influencing factors of quality of life. Methods Using systematic sampling, 250 core family caregivers of patients with recurrent schizophrenia were selected from the psychiatric department of a tertiary hospital in Hunan Province between July 2025 and January 2026. The Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS), World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Social Support Rating Scale were employed for investigation. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results The average FBIS score among family caregivers was 22.80±9.97. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in caregiver burden among caregivers of education levels, duration of caregiving (months), daily caregiving hours, and monthly family income (P<0.05). The average social support score was 40.17±6.76, with significant differences related to age, religious belief, caregiving duration, and number of co-caregivers (P<0.05). The average WHOQOL-BREF score was 59.08±9.15, with significant differences found according to education level, occupation, residence, relationship to patient, daily caregiving time, family monthly income, and presence or absence of mental illness (P<0.05). Caregiver burden and social support were correlated with their quality of life. Relationship to patient, daily caregiving time, family monthly income and caregiver burden were influencing factors of caregivers' quality of life. Conclusion Family caregivers of patients with recurrent schizophrenia bear a heavy caregiver burden, which significantly affects their quality of life. Clinical and social interventions should consider factors such as caregiving duration to develop targeted strategies to alleviate caregiver burden and improve quality of life.
Key words
schizophrenia /
recurrence /
family caregivers /
caregiver burden /
social support /
quality of life
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