Scale Analysis

The Burden Measurement Scale (Zarit Burden Interview) is a widely used instrument for assessing caregiver burden, especially among caregivers of individuals with dementia. It was developed by Zarit in 1990.

Purpose

The purpose of the Burden Measurement Scale is to evaluate the subjective burden experienced by caregivers of American patients with dementia.

Scoring of Items

The scale consists of a total of 22 items/statements, which refer to the emotions and experiences of individuals who care for people with dementia. The scale evaluates four dimensions of burden:
Personal strain
Role strain
Care management
Role deprivation
For each item, respondents indicate how often they feel a certain way using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from:
0 = Never
1 = Rarely
2 = Sometimes
3 = Quite Frequently
4 = Nearly Always

Statistical Analysis

The scale produces an overall score by summing all item responses, ranging from 0 to 88. The higher the score, the greater the perceived burden. Interpretation of scores:
0–21: Little or no burden
21–40: Mild to moderate burden
41–60: Moderate burden
Over 60: Severe burden

Validity and Reliability

The scale was translated and adapted for the Greek population by Papastavrou et al. (2006). Its internal consistency reliability is considered excellent, with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.88 to 0.94. The scale is widely used by researchers and is regarded as a benchmark tool for comparing findings across studies.

References

Original Author: Zarit, S. H.
Greek Adaptation: Papastavrou, E. & collaborators
Tags: Burden Measurement Scale [BMS], Zarit Burden Interview, caregiver burden, scale analysis, dementia care, psychometrics.