The Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview: Evidence of Validity for the Brazilian Population of Caregivers of the Elderly

• Published in: Revista colombiana de psicología 2019-01, Vol.28 (1), p.99
• Main Authors: Francine Náthalie Ferraresi Rodrigues Queluz, Ferreira Campos, Camila Rafael, de Santis, Ligia, Isaac, Letícia, Barham, Elizabeth Joan
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Subjects: Caregivers; Internal validity; Older people; Quality of life; Validity
• ISSN: 0121-5469; 2344-8644
• DOI: 10.15446/rcp.v28n1.69422

The Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI) is used to assess burden among caregivers of the elderly. However, greater evidence is needed to assess the validity of this instrument when used in the Brazilian context, with caregivers of different ages. In this paper, we examined evidence of internal validity, as well as examining how caregiver burden is related to quality of life and depression. In Study 1, 285 caregivers of elderly people between the ages of 18 and 87 responded to the ZBI. In Study 2, 205 of the caregivers also responded to the Beck Depression Inventory and the Quality of Life Scale. In Study 1, three models were tested using a confirmatory factorial analysis and Cronbach’s alpha. In Study 2, correlations were tested between ZBI scores and scores for depression and quality of life. The three-factor model was the most adequate, presenting good indices of internal consistency. The ZBI scores were negatively correlated with quality of life and positively correlated with depression. This study contributes to the validation of the ZBI for use in Brazil, using a sample of caregivers with a wide range of ages.