OBJECTIVE:

to identify predictive variables of caregiver overload in the southern area of Tamaulipas.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

the intentional sample was of 215 informal caregivers and/or relatives of people with chronic diseases, users of two General Hospitals of Tamaulipas, Mexico. The study design was transversal and explanatory.

RESULTS:

more than half of the sample presented problems of overload (53%) and family dysfunction (51.6%). Also, it was detected that just over half is perceived with medium and low level of caregiving competencies (45.6%) and in some category of depression (39.1%). In the regression model, four predictors of overload were identified: depression, caregiving competencies, dependence on the caregiver and time spent on caregiving. The adjusted R2 = .33, indicates that these 4 variables explain one third of the variance of overload. In addition, the family functionality and age variables were not significant for the model.

CONCLUSIONS:

the profile of informal caregivers in this study sample coincides with that reported in the international literature and that the model of predictors of caregiving overload allowed the identification of some variables that influence caregiver overload.