Zarit

Zarit refers to the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), a self-report questionnaire used to assess caregiver burden, particularly among family members caring for a person with dementia. It was developed by Steven H. Zarit, Reever, and Bachner in 1980 and has since become one of the most widely used tools for measuring the impact of caregiving on the caregiver’s life.

The original instrument contains 29 items that examine how caregiving responsibilities affect the caregiver's emotional, social, and personal well-being. Respondents rate each item on a 0-to-4 Likert scale (0 = never, 4 = nearly always), and higher total scores indicate greater perceived caregiver burden. The instrument is designed to capture perceived strain rather than objective caregiving tasks alone.

Several versions exist. The most widely used short form is the 22-item ZBI-22, which is common in both clinical and research settings due to its practicality. Shorter variants, such as the ZBI-12, have also been employed in various studies. The ZBI is used to identify caregivers experiencing substantial burden, to assess changes over time, and to evaluate the effects of interventions aimed at reducing caregiver stress.

Validity and reliability of the ZBI have been demonstrated in diverse populations, and the measure has been translated into many languages with cross-cultural validations. It is considered a standard instrument in the assessment of caregiver burden related to dementia care, and it continues to be updated and adapted for broader caregiving contexts.