Description

The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-22) is a widely used psychometric instrument for assessing subjective caregiver burden, particularly among individuals caring for people with dementia. According to the available material, the scale is attributed to Zarit and is used to systematically evaluate the emotional, social, and functional impact of caregiving responsibilities.

Caregiver burden is a multidimensional concept that may involve personal strain, role-related stress, difficulties in managing care, and restrictions imposed by the caregiving role on the caregiver’s personal life.

Aim

The primary aim of the ZBI-22 is to assess the subjective burden experienced by caregivers of individuals with dementia. The scale captures the extent to which caregiving demands affect daily life, emotional well-being, and the caregiver’s perception of their role.

The instrument can also help identify caregivers experiencing higher levels of burden and can support the planning of appropriate supportive interventions.

Analysis and Use of Data

The ZBI-22 consists of 22 statements concerning the feelings and experiences of individuals caring for people with dementia. The available material refers to four main burden-related factors: personal strain, role strain, care management, and role deprivation.

Responses can be used to quantify overall caregiver burden and to monitor potential changes over time or following supportive or therapeutic interventions.

Scoring

Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 = “Never” to 4 = “Nearly Always.” The total score is calculated by summing the responses across all items and ranges from 0 to 88, with higher scores indicating greater caregiver burden.

According to the available file, score interpretation is as follows: 0–21 indicates little or no burden, 21–40 mild to moderate burden, 41–60 moderate burden, and scores above 60 indicate very severe burden.

Validity and Reliability

The scale was translated and adapted for use in a Greek population by Papastavrou and colleagues in 2006. The available material reports satisfactory internal reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.88 to 0.94.

Its widespread use in caregiver research also facilitates comparisons across different studies and populations.

References

Author: Zarit, S. H.
Greek adaptation: Papastavrou, E., and colleagues.