Stress and Compliance with a Home Exercise Program Among Caregivers of Children with Disabilities

In Brief Purpose: To determine the relationship between caregiver stress and compliance with home programs in caregivers of children with disabilities. Methods: Sixty-six caregivers of children with disabilities responded to a mailed survey to determine their level of compliance with a prescribed home physical therapy program and the level of caregiver stress. Compliance was defined as the degree to which caregivers followed the prescribed frequency of the home program. Results: Sixty-six percent of the caregivers reported some level of noncompliance with their home program. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between the caregivers' level of noncompliance with the home program and the level of stress that they reported. Correlation coefficients showed a significant relationship between family problems and noncompliance with home programs. As caregiver and family problems increased, noncompliance with home programs increased. Conclusions: Caregivers of children with disabilities experience stress that should be addressed by therapists to maximize compliance with home programs. This survey of the relationship between caregiver stress and compliance with home programs in caregivers of children with disabilities suggests that caregiver stress should be addressed by therapists to maximize compliance with home programs.