Caregiver burden, coping strategies, and problem-solving skills among parents of children with tracheostomy: a cross-sectional study

Caring for children with tracheostomy poses significant challenges, affecting caregivers’ cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. This study aimed to assess caregiver burden, coping strategies, and problem-solving skills in mothers and fathers and to examine their relationships with the clinical characteristics of the children. This cross-sectional study included both consenting parents of children with tracheostomy followed between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. Demographic and clinical data for the children and parents were recorded. Both parents completed the validated Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Methods of Coping with Family Stressors Scale (MCFSS), and Problem Solving Inventory (PSI). The study included 40 children with tracheostomy and their mothers and fathers. Mothers were the sole primary caregivers in 80.0% of families, whereas caregiving was shared by mothers and fathers in 20.0%. The mean ZBI score was higher among mothers (43.58 ± 12.01) than among fathers (28.60 ± 8.01; p < 0.001). Among the coping-strategy subscales, fathers scored higher than mothers only for care between spouses (p = 0.030 ). No statistically significant differences were found in PSI total or subscale scores. Among mothers, higher caregiver burden was associated with lower scores for cognitive restructuring ( r = − 0.394, p = 0.012), changing behavior (r = − 0.495, p = 0.001), relaxation exercises ( r = − 0.318, p = 0.046), and spending time with family (r = − 0.458, p = 0.003). No statistically significant correlations were found between the assessed clinical characteristics of the children and parental ZBI or PSI scores. Mothers experienced greater caregiver burden than fathers, whereas problem-solving skills were similar between parents. Higher maternal burden was associated with less frequent use of coping strategies, supporting targeted maternal support within family-centered care.