Factors associated with quality of life of dementia caregivers: Direct and indirect effects.

Abstract

To examine the direct and indirect relationships between the characteristics of people with dementia and caregivers associated with caregivers' quality of life. Complex relationships exist among the factors associated with caregivers' quality of life. This study was a retrospective cross-sectional design. The data were retrospectively extracted from participants who had visited the Center for Diagnosis of Dementia at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine from April 2013-March 2016. The data search was conducted on 21 April 2017. In total, 110 people with dementia and their caregivers participated. The characteristics of people with dementia were evaluated in terms of cognitive function, basic and instrumental activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms. We also evaluated caregivers' quality of life, depressive symptoms and care burden. Path analysis was used to investigate direct and indirect relationships. The path analysis revealed that care burden and depressive symptoms directly affected caregivers' quality of life. Furthermore, declines in instrumental activities of daily living among people with dementia indirectly affected caregivers' quality of life, while declines in cognitive function of people with dementia also indirectly affected caregivers' care burden and depressive symptoms. Caregiver quality of life was directly and indirectly affected by the characteristics of caregivers and people with dementia. The present findings provided evidence that factors related to both people with dementia and caregivers should be considered when nursing interventions are conducted.