The psychology of feeling like a burden: A review of the literature

INTRODUCTION Media reports tell of the increasing global burden of an ageing population, both financially and in care provision (Conway, 2010). In the U.K. the debate on euthanasia and assisted suicide has become more prominent with some disabled, elderly and physically ill people making trips to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end their lives. Baroness Warnock stated that frail elderly people should think about euthanasia so as not to financially burden their families (Templeton, 2004). This could suggest that to be dependent and in need of care is to be a burden. Those requiring help often say ‘I don’t want to be a burden’ and when receiving help some experience themselves as a burden (Angus & Reeve, 2006; Charmaz, 1991; Chochinov et al., 2007). This is of interest as most people will require help at some point in their lives and so potentially could feel this way. Groups such as the elderly, the disabled and the physically or mentally ill who may need help in order to survive could be especially vulnerable to experiencing this sense of being a burden to others. This review will ask what psychology has to say about feeling like a burden. It will examine the research available and explore the psychological and social consequences for individuals who feel this way. Psychology has been criticised in the past for individualising distress and for not exploring wider political and societal reasons for psychological problems (Hare-Mustin & Marecek, 1997); therefore, the review will also consider how a sense of burden is socially constructed and suggest ways of addressing the problem alongside areas for future study.