Mediating effects of predictability between caregiving demands and caregiving consequences for persons living with dementia: A longitudinal study

Geriatr Nurs. 2024 Jul-Aug:58:430-437. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.05.028. Epub 2024 Jun 20.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of predictability in the relationship between caregiving demands and caregiving consequences.

Design: This 2-year longitudinal survey study collected from self-report questionnaires. A convenience sample of family caregivers of older persons living with dementia were recruited from a neurology clinic.

Results: A total of 200 family caregivers were recruited to participate. Analysis indicated predictability was a partial mediator between caregiving demand and caregiver consequences of role strain, depressive symptoms and both physical and mental components of health-related quality of life at the 2-year follow. Predictability accounted for 25 %, 28.8 %, 15.3 % and 46.5 % of the relationship between caregiving demand and caregiving consequences of role strain, depressive symptoms, physical- and mental-health related quality of life, respectively.

Conclusions: The contributions of caregiving demand to outcomes of caregiver consequences were in part due family caregivers perceived predictability for caregiving.

Keywords: Caregiver role strain; Depressive symptoms; Health related quality of life; Mediation; Predictability.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Caregivers* / psychology
  • Dementia* / nursing
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life*
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Surveys and Questionnaires