Abstract:

Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare caregiver burden and the levels of depression and anxiety among mothers of children with celiac disease who are adherent or non-adherent to a gluten-free diet. Methods: In this study, 92 patients diagnosed with celiac disease who were regularly followed at the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, and their caregiving mothers were enrolled. Demographic characteristics were captured for both patients and mothers and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Zarit Burden Interview were completed for caregiving mothers. Results: There were 69 (75%) mothers in the diet-adherent group and 23 (25%) mothers in the non-diet-adherent group. The caregiving mothers studied had a mean age of 39.6 ± 7.4 years. The mean Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Zarit Burden Interview scores of the caregiving mothers were 15.4 ± 8.2, 17.3 ± 9.5, and 37.1 ± 13.5 points, respectively. Compared to the mothers in the diet-adherent group, mean Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Zarit Burden Interview scores were statistically significantly higher in the mothers in the non-diet-adherent group (P=.005, .001, .020, respectively). Conclusions: It is necessary to recognize the burdens that caregivers are exposed to and identify how heavy these burdens are. Mothers of patients who do not comply with gluten-free diet may experience high levels of depression and anxiety and this should be borne in mind while treating celiac disease.

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