Scale Overview
The Caregiver Burden Scale – CBS was developed by S. Elmstahl, B. Malmberg, L. Annerstedt (1996). It is designed to measure Caregiver Burden. The scale is intended for use with Family caregivers of patients (e.g., stroke survivors, elderly, chronically ill).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 22 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: General strain, Isolation, Disappointment, Emotional involvement, Environment.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| General strain |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 |
8 |
| Isolation |
9,10,14 |
3 |
| Disappointment |
11,12,13,15,16 |
5 |
| Emotional involvement |
17,18,19 |
3 |
| Environment |
20,21,22 |
3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not At All, 2 = Seldom, 3 = Sometimes, 4 = Often.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 22 to 88. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Burden: 22 – 44
- Moderate Burden: 45 – 66
- High Burden: 67 – 88
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from 0.70 to 0.87 for the subscales.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.