Stress and Anxiety Screening in Caregivers of Children with Pediatric Feeding Disorder

Abstract

Objectives

Caregivers of children with Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) are at-risk for experiencing anxiety and stress. Given the high prevalence of PFD, many caregivers are susceptible to such symptoms. However, regular screening for caregiver mental health concerns within pediatric clinics is scarce. This study examined rates of caregiver mental health screening completion and levels of anxiety and stress among caregivers of children with PFD.

Methods

Caregivers (n = 67) were approached about completing a mental health screener. Descriptive statistics were used to explore completion rates of screenings and levels of stress and anxiety.

Results

Sixty-three caregivers (94%) completed the mental health screening and findings reflect high rates of anxiety and stress for this population.

Conclusions

These results highlight the high rates of anxiety and stress in this caregiver population and demonstrate the need for universal screening for caregiver mental health among pediatric feeding clinics.

Plain Language Summary

Managing a child’s feeding disorder can be hard on families. Caregivers often have to change their daily routines, manage complex feeding plans, and pay for expensive treatments to best support their child's feeding. These challenges can cause high levels of stress and anxiety for caregivers. However, in most clinics that treat children with PFD, caregiver mental health is not regularly checked. This is a missed opportunity to support the whole family. In this study, we tested whether it would be possible, and acceptable, to ask caregivers to complete a short mental health screening during a regular PFD clinic visit. Out of 67 caregivers who were eligible, 63 caregivers (94%) agreed to take part. The results showed that 60% of caregivers had at least mild anxiety, and 75% were dealing with moderate to high stress. Results show that it is not only possible to include caregiver mental health checks in routine visits, it is also something caregivers are open to. Based on these findings, we recommend that medical teams in PFD clinics partner with psychologists or social workers. These professionals can help identify caregivers in need and connect them with mental health resources. By supporting caregivers' mental health, clinics are also positively impacting how caregivers manage their child’s feeding treatment. Future studies should focus on how to make caregiver mental health support a regular part of care in feeding clinics across the country.