The Burnout of Informal Caregivers: Contemporary Perceptions and Research Perspectives

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Abstract

The central theme of the paper is the fundamental possibility of using the theoretical construct of burnout in relation to relatives caring for chronically ill patients. Based on the overview of contemporary literature and the results of our empirical studies, we show that the concept of burnout differs from the concept of burden widespread in clinical psychology. One of the most relevant models for studying burnout of relatives taking care of chronically ill patients proves to be the Informal Caregiving Integrative Model (ICIM). ICIM is based on the Model of Career Stress and Burden and Job Demands-Resources Model. Analysis of the main components of ICIM (determinants, mediators, specific outcomes, general outcomes) and their circularity interactions shows the multifaceted nature of informal caregivers’ burnout. We conclude that further development of the conceptual framework and appropriate assessment tools for studying the emotional burnout of informal caregivers is necessary.

General Information

Keywords: burnout, informal caregivers of the chronically ill, family burden, assessment of burnout

Journal rubric: Workshop and Methods

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2021290109

For citation: Bocharov V.V., Shishkova A.M. The Burnout of Informal Caregivers: Contemporary Perceptions and Research Perspectives. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya = Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2021. Vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 149–164. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2021290109. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Victor V. Bocharov, PhD in Psychology, Head of the Laboratory of clinical psychology and psychodiagnostics, V.M. Bekhterev’ National research medical center for psychiatry and neurology, Head of Department of Clinical Psychology. St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0874-4576, e-mail: bochvikvik@gmail.com

Alexandra M. Shishkova, PhD in Psychology, Senior Research Associate Laboratory of clinical psychology and psychodiagnostics, V.M. Bekhterev’ National research medical center for psychiatry and neurology, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9707-138X, e-mail: shishaspb@mail.ru

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