Factor analysis of the Zarit Burden Interview in family caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective: The Zarit Burden Interview has been used in many studies to assess caregiver burden in family caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but the factor structure of the Zarit Burden Interview in the caregivers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the factor structure of the Zarit Burden Interview in family caregivers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients using exploratory factor analysis. Methods: The exploratory factor analysis was performed using generalized least squares with oblique rotation in a sample of 202 family caregivers. Results: Three factors had an eigenvalue greater than 1 and accounted for 60.33% of the total variance. The three factors were named as follows: (factor 1) “Social restrictions” (items 2, 3, and 10–15); (factor 2) “Self-criticism” (items 20–21); and (factor 3) “Anger and frustration” (items 1, 4–6, 9, and 16–19). The correlation between factors 1 and 3 was much higher (r = 0.79) than that between factors 1 and 2 (r = 0.14) or factors 2 and 3 (r = 0.15). Conclusion: The findings of this study enriched our understanding of several meaningful dimensions of the caregiving burden in caregivers of an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis population and provided opportunities for future intervention.