Predictors of Mental Health Problems in Formal and Informal Caregivers of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Background: Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with significant mental burden e.g., depression and anxiety, and difficulties with social, familial, and professional functioning. To date, few studies have examined variables which would allow for a comprehensive and detailed study of the relationship between personal resources and caregiver health status, with a majority of studies focusing on factors that contribute to increased caregiver's burden. Moreover, the available evidence fails to address differences in the functioning of formal and informal carers. Paying proper attention to the problems of nursing home staff can help identify important risk factors. Therefore, this study compared mental health problems in informal and formal caregivers and examined the relationship between mental resources and mental health problems in both groups of caregivers. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 100 formal (n = 50) and informal (n = 50) caregivers of AD patients. Personal resources were measured with the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SCQ), while mental health was assessed with the Depression Assessment Questionnaire (DAQ) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Multivariate stepwise regression was performed separately for both investigated groups. Results: There were no significant differences between informal and formal caregivers in terms of psychological variables, i.e., sense of coherence, social support, self-efficacy, or mental health problems. In contrast, there were different significant predictors of mental health problems in both groups. Comprehensibility (SCQ) was a significant predictor of mental health problems measured by DAQ and self-efficacy (GSES) was a significant predictor of mental health problems measured by GHQ in informal caregivers. For formal caregivers, emotional support (SSQ) and comprehensibility (SCQ) were significant predictors of mental health problems measured by DAQ, while tangible support (SSQ) and meaningfulness (SCQ) were significant predictors of mental health problems measured by GHQ. Conclusions: Personal resources are significant predictors of mental health outcomes in caregivers of AD patients. Preventive actions should therefore include assessment of factors affecting caregivers’ mental health in order to provide them with necessary care and create appropriate support groups.

Mental Health of Caregivers Working in Nursing Homes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…It has been reported that depressive symptoms were more common among dementia caregivers than other caregivers [32]. Furthermore, worsening of dementia symptoms, especially BPSD, has a profound physical and psychological impact and increases depressive and anxiety symptoms among both formal and informal caregivers [33][34][35]. In this study, worsening of dementia symptoms was commonly reported (by 32.1% of participants) along with deterioration of cognitive function (89.1%) and deterioration of BPSD (38.3%).…”

The impact of psychiatric disorders on caregivers: An integrative predictive model of burden, stigma, and well‐being

“…The main predictors of caregivers' burden previously investigated have focused on financial difficulties, interpersonal relationships, concerns about treatment, and patients engaging in risk or harming behaviors (e.g., drinking, self‐harm, taking drugs) (Stomski and Morrison, 2019). Other studies showed that a low sense of comprehensibility and self‐efficacy (Sołtys & Tyburski, 2020), perceived stigma, and high levels of distress (Rafiq & Sadiq, 2019) can impact caregivers' mental health. Our findings complement previous studies by showing that the emotional representation of the psychiatric condition is a strong predictor of caregivers' burden.…”

“…Caregiver burden (Gérain & Zech, 2019; Liu et al, 2020; Sołtys & Tyburski, 2020; Tsai et al, 2021) is a concept that refers to the physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion or depersonalization a caregiver can experience (Gérain & Zech, 2019; Thompson et al, 2014) and it has been shown to have a negative impact on both the caregiver and the patient (Oruche et al, 2012). Caregivers' gender (i.e., female), educational level, professional status, financial difficulties, number of hours spent caregiving, and other psychosocial aspects (e.g., depression and anxiety levels, coping mechanisms, social isolation, etc.…”

Dementia Family Carers’ Quality of Life and Their Perceptions About Care-receivers’ Dementia Symptoms: The Role of Resilience

“…Dementia care in Greece, similar to most European countries, is primarily provided at home by informal or unpaid caregivers (CGs) (mostly first-degree relatives) (Petmesidou, 2014). Dementia caregiving can be an extremely demanding and burdensome responsibility with significant repercussions to the quality of life (QoL) of the informal GCs of people with dementia (PwD) (Collins & Kishita, 2020; Sołtys & Tyburski, 2020). QoL is a multidimensional construct incorporating physical and psychological health, social relationships, personal beliefs and relationship with the environment, and therefore, it can provide an indicator of the overall impact of caregiving on the CG (WHO, 1998).…”