Afrontamiento, apoyo social y depresión en cuidadores informales y su relación con necesidades no cubiertas de personas con demencia

Abstract

BackgroundBeing a caregiver comprises several challenges in order to maintain the wellbeing of people with dementia and their caregivers. The aim of this study was to describe the coping mechanisms, social support and depressive and anxiety symptoms in informal caregivers, and to determine their relationship with unmet needs of people with dementia. Material and methodsThis was a cross-sectional study with a convenient sample of 166 dyads of informal caregivers and their care-recipients with dementia. Cognitive decline and unmet needs of people with dementia, and caregivers’ coping, social support and depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed. ResultsMost frequently used coping mechanism were: acceptance, religion and active coping. Caregivers who use emotion-focused coping strategies have higher social support, less depressive symptoms and their care-recipient shows less unmet needs. Finally, perceived social support acted, respectively, as a total and partial mediator between emotion-focused and dysfunctional coping strategies and people with dementia's unmet needs. ConclusionThese findings show the importance of enhancing caregivers’ social networks and developing interventions aimed to increment the use of emotion-focused coping strategies which will ultimately impact positively on persons with dementia.