Around the world, family caregivers are an important source of support for people with intellectual disability (ID) and for those with severe mental disorder (SMD), although the level of support can be influenced by the culture and government healthcare systems in each country. However, there is little evidence about the mental health and coping mechanisms of these caregivers in low-income countries. To address this need, we aimed to elicit whether there are potential links between coping style, mental health, and perceived burden experienced by this group, using a sample from a central Asian upper middle-income country. Methods: We recruited 120 participants, of which 60 were caregivers of people with ID and 60 of people with SMD. All participants were recruited from Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, Central Asia, and were asked to complete of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced inventory scale (COPE). Multiple regression analyses were used to investigate associations between these measures. Results: We found that DASS scores were significantly higher among the sample of caregivers of individuals with ID than in those of SMD. Mental and behavioral disorders were associated with higher DASS scores in the sample of caregivers of those with SMD. Good coping styles, indicated by higher scores in the COPE, were associated with increased age in caregivers of individuals with ID. Conclusion: Although overall the carers of people with SMD appeared to have better active coping skills and better acceptance of the caring role, they demonstrated comparatively high levels of stress. This study was not registered.

Background: Informal caregiving for individuals with intellectual disabilities can involve sustained psychological and social demands. This study assessed caregiver burden and psychological distress among informal caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Mongolia and examined their associations with caregiver and care-recipient characteristics. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 642 informal caregivers recruited from primary health care centers and the National Center for Mental Health in Ulaanbaatar. Psychological distress was assessed with the 42-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42), and caregiver burden with the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Results: The mean ZBI score was 39.03 ± 14.68, and 48.9% of caregivers had moderate-to-severe or severe burden. Severe or extremely severe symptoms were observed in 25.9% of participants for depression, 49.5% for anxiety, and 15.2% for stress. ZBI scores correlated positively with depression (r = 0.537), anxiety (r = 0.519), and stress (r = 0.584) (all p < 0.001). In multivariable models, higher ZBI scores remained associated with higher depression (β = 0.313), anxiety (β = 0.306), and stress scores (β = 0.355) (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Caregiver burden and psychological distress were common and closely associated in this sample. Routine assessment of caregiver mental health, together with caregiver-focused psychosocial and community support, should be considered in services for individuals with intellectual disabilities.