SONO, ANSIEDADE, ESTRESSE E DEPRESSÃO EM CUIDADORES FAMILIARES DE CRIANÇAS COM TRANSTORNO DO NEURODESENVOLVIMENTO

Abstract

The care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders is usually provided by family members, who are subject to high levels of physical and emotional stress. The aim of this study was to assess sleep quality and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression among family caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This is a cross-sectional study conducted with family caregivers at two private pediatric neurorehabilitation clinics in the state of Goiás, Brazil. A socioeconomic questionnaire, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-BR) were used. Numerical variables were presented as mean and standard deviation, while categorical variables were presented as absolute and relative frequencies. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test and Pearson's correlation test were performed, considering p<0.05. The sample consisted of 44 family caregivers, the majority of whom were women (86.4%). The results showed that 100% of participants had poor sleep quality, and more than one third of the sample presented moderate to extremely severe symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Poor sleep quality was correlated with stress (r=0.58, p<0.001), anxiety (r=0.60, p<0.001), and depression symptoms (r=0.45, p=0.002). This study demonstrated a high prevalence of psychopathological symptoms and poor sleep quality among family caregivers.