Assessing the burden of parents caring for a family member with an eating disorder in China

We examined the care burden and related factors of 192 parents of a family member being treated for an eating disorder in China. Participants completed a survey designed to measure demographic variables, caregiver burden, social support, and coping style. Results show that a greater care burden was associated with longer duration of the disorder, low family income, and longer interaction time between the parent and the family member. The use of a positive (vs. negative) coping style and good social support were associated with a lesser (vs. greater) care burden. Thus, we propose that parents be provided with support and that their coping style be improved as part of a comprehensive eating disorder intervention process.