Psychosocial Wellbeing, Stress, and Support Systems among Caregivers of Persons with Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background: Currently, there is significant pressure on caregivers supporting PwD in India; the pressure is felt due to inadequate support infrastructure in the country. In this regard, the paper explores the levels of psychosocial well-being, stress levels, and support infrastructure among the PwD caregiving community across varying demographics. Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of 335 caregivers of PwD, including 168 female and 167 male caregivers, recruited via a convenient sampling strategy from healthcare and rehabilitation services. A structured questionnaire examined physical and emotional strain, financial burden, challenges faced in terms of social and cultural issues, supportive system, psychological well-being, WHO 5, and stress levels. Results: Differences in female caregivers, as compared to their male counterparts, included a higher burden of physical and emotional challenges, as well as difficulties in terms of social challenges, with significance levels of p = 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively. Differences in caregivers in terms of burden, stress, and wellbeing outcomes, as compared to the extended family, indicated higher burden and stress, but lower wellbeing outcomes. Differences in caregivers in terms of burden, stress, and wellbeing outcomes, as compared to rural caregivers, indicated higher difficulties due to social and cultural challenges, with a significance value of p = 0.001. Differences in caregivers in terms of burden, stress, and wellbeing outcomes, as compared to urban caregivers, indicated higher levels of stress in urban caregivers, but lower levels of wellbeing Conclusion: Caregiver burden differs according to factors such as gender, family arrangement, geographic location, employment status, and economic status. Appropriate interventions to meet the particular demands of different at-risk caregiving groups are vital to strengthen supporting services.