Gendered Caregiver Burden and Coping Strategies in Community Mental Health: Evidence From Peru

Manuel Jesus Ortega Zea; Maria Luisa Huamaní Valderrama; Danna Samantha Cuba Serrudo · Research Square (2026) · DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9138880/v1

Resumen

Abstract Emotional burden in family caregivers of people with severe mental disorders is a public health problem that affects the quality of life of patients and caregivers. Although coping strategies have been described as potential modulators of the burden, their effectiveness in low-resource community settings remains largely unexplored. This study analyzed the relationship between emotional overload and coping in caregivers of patients treated at a Community Mental Health Center in Cusco in 2025. An observational, analytical, cross-sectional, correlational, non-experimental design was applied to a sample of 150 primary caregivers (90% women; mean age = 40 years), selected for convenience. Overload was assessed using the Zarit Scale and coping strategies using the COPE Inventory, both adapted to the Peruvian context. Analyses included descriptive statistics, nonparametric associations, and multivariate models to assess the role of gender and coping. The results showed that 74% of caregivers experienced moderate or severe overload, with a predominance of problem-focused coping. No significant correlations were identified between coping style and level of burden, while gender emerged as a relevant predictor: women reported higher levels of burden than men. It is concluded that emotional burden persists regardless of coping style, highlighting the weight of structural and gender factors. These findings guide the design of multicomponent interventions in Community Mental Health Centers, with gender-sensitive protocols that integrate family psychoeducation, respite networks, and coordination with community organizations to reduce caregiver burden.

Instituciones: Universidad Continental