Caregiver Stress and Health Status Based on Self-report Measures, Cortisol Level, and Immune Functioning among Parents of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background: Evaluation and integration of family carers' health concerns into the treatment protocol are imperative. Caregivers of children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are often involved in extended periods of caregiving resulting in physical and mental exhaustion. The current study aims to examine the stress and health status of parents who are primary carers providing care for children with NDDs by evaluating the caregivers' experience of stress and immune functioning through self-report and biomarker measures. Methods: The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved the administration of self-report measures of caregiver stress and perceived immune status using the Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale and Immune Status Questionnaire respectively to 150 parents of children with NDDs. In the second phase, 30 parents who fulfilled the criteria and consented to participate in the blood testing were evaluated for biomarker profiles of stress and immune functioning through the cortisol, lymphocytes, and hemoglobin measures. Results: The results of the study revealed that of 150 parents 142 (94.6%) experienced moderate-severe stress and 70 (46.6%) perceived reduced or poor immune status. There exists a significant negative relationship between self-reported measures of caregiver stress and perceived immune status and there also exists a significant relationship between self-reported measures and biomarker measures. Conclusion: Caregivers of children with NDDs are constrained to navigate through the process of caregiving for an extended duration of their lives which could potentially result in compromised psychological and immune functioning in the long run. Therefore, it is vital to focus on care arrangements for family carers by centering a biopsychosocial model of care for caregivers to improve their well-being.