Coping, Subjective Burden and Mental Health in Family Carers of Dependent Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

IF 3.1 4区医学 Q1 NURSING

Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Pub Date : 2026-07-07 Epub Date: 2026-04-15 DOI:10.1111/jpm.70129

Juan Carlos Muñoz-Cruz, Catalina López-Martínez, Vasiliki Orgeta, Rafael Del-Pino-Casado

{"title":"Coping, Subjective Burden and Mental Health in Family Carers of Dependent Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis","authors":"Juan Carlos Muñoz-Cruz, Catalina López-Martínez, Vasiliki Orgeta, Rafael Del-Pino-Casado","doi":"10.1111/jpm.70129","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Introduction</h3>\n \n <p>Caring for dependent children and adolescents places a substantial emotional and psychological burden on families. Coping strategies may influence the mental health of family carers.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Aim</h3>\n \n <p>To systematically review how coping strategies relate to subjective burden, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in family carers of dependent children and adolescents.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Method</h3>\n \n <p>Systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis were performed, searching PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and LILACS (up to June 2025). Observational studies examining the association between coping strategies and subjective burden, anxiety, or depression in family members caring for dependent children aged under 18 were included. Study quality was assessed via sampling method, instrument reliability, and confounder control.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Thirty-eight studies (42 samples; 4548 participants) were included. Dysfunctional coping was consistently associated with more depressive symptoms, anxiety, and subjective burden. In contrast, functional coping was related to fewer depressive symptoms and subjective burden. Emotion-focused coping and its individual strategies were generally associated with less psychological distress. Problem-focused coping showed mixed results.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Discussion</h3>\n \n <p>Dysfunctional coping appears to represent a risk to carers' mental health, whereas functional coping—particularly emotion-focused strategies—might be protective. However, all studies were cross-sectional.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Implications for Practice</h3>\n \n <p>Assessing and encouraging adaptive strategies, especially those focused on emotion coping, could improve carers' mental health.</p>\n \n <p><b>Trial Registration:</b> International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: PROSPERO: CRD42024533044.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":50076,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing","volume":"33 4","pages":"573-598"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpm.70129","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpm.70129","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/4/15 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Caring for dependent children and adolescents places a substantial emotional and psychological burden on families. Coping strategies may influence the mental health of family carers.

Aim

To systematically review how coping strategies relate to subjective burden, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in family carers of dependent children and adolescents.

Method

Systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis were performed, searching PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and LILACS (up to June 2025). Observational studies examining the association between coping strategies and subjective burden, anxiety, or depression in family members caring for dependent children aged under 18 were included. Study quality was assessed via sampling method, instrument reliability, and confounder control.

Results

Thirty-eight studies (42 samples; 4548 participants) were included. Dysfunctional coping was consistently associated with more depressive symptoms, anxiety, and subjective burden. In contrast, functional coping was related to fewer depressive symptoms and subjective burden. Emotion-focused coping and its individual strategies were generally associated with less psychological distress. Problem-focused coping showed mixed results.

Discussion

Dysfunctional coping appears to represent a risk to carers' mental health, whereas functional coping—particularly emotion-focused strategies—might be protective. However, all studies were cross-sectional.

Implications for Practice

Assessing and encouraging adaptive strategies, especially those focused on emotion coping, could improve carers' mental health.

Trial Registration: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: PROSPERO: CRD42024533044.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

受抚养儿童和青少年家庭照顾者的应对、主观负担与心理健康：meta分析的系统回顾

导言：照顾受抚养的儿童和青少年给家庭带来了沉重的情感和心理负担。应对策略可能影响家庭照顾者的心理健康。目的：系统回顾受抚养儿童和青少年家庭照顾者的应对策略与主观负担、焦虑和抑郁症状的关系。方法：系统评价和随机效应荟萃分析，检索PubMed、PsycINFO、CINAHL和LILACS（截至2025年6月）。包括观察性研究，研究照顾18岁以下受抚养儿童的家庭成员的应对策略与主观负担、焦虑或抑郁之间的关系。通过抽样方法、仪器可靠性和混杂因素控制来评估研究质量。结果：共纳入38项研究（42个样本，4548名参与者）。不正常的应对始终与更多的抑郁症状、焦虑和主观负担相关。相反，功能性应对与抑郁症状和主观负担的减少有关。以情绪为中心的应对及其个人策略通常与较少的心理困扰有关。以问题为中心的应对方式显示出好坏参半的结果。讨论：功能失调的应对方式似乎对照顾者的心理健康构成了威胁，而功能失调的应对方式——尤其是以情绪为中心的策略——可能具有保护作用。然而，所有的研究都是横断面的。对实践的启示：评估和鼓励适应策略，特别是那些专注于情绪应对的策略，可以改善护理人员的心理健康。试验注册：国际前瞻性系统评价注册：PROSPERO: CRD42024533044。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 医学-护理

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

3.70%

发文量

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing is an international journal which publishes research and scholarly papers that advance the development of policy, practice, research and education in all aspects of mental health nursing. We publish rigorously conducted research, literature reviews, essays and debates, and consumer practitioner narratives; all of which add new knowledge and advance practice globally. All papers must have clear implications for mental health nursing either solely or part of multidisciplinary practice. Papers are welcomed which draw on single or multiple research and academic disciplines. We give space to practitioner and consumer perspectives and ensure research published in the journal can be understood by a wide audience. We encourage critical debate and exchange of ideas and therefore welcome letters to the editor and essays and debates in mental health.