Self-Efficacy and Sleep Quality as Mediators of Perceived Stress and Memory and Behavior Problems in the link to Dementia Caregivers’ Depression in Taiwan

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjectives: Caregivers’ perceived stress and reactions to patients’ memory and behavior problems have been commonly regarded as outcomes in caregiving research; however, these variables may also serve as predictors of caregivers’ depressive symptoms. The current study investigated the relationship between perceived stress and reactions to patients’ problems and depression among the family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, we examined caregiving self-efficacy and sleep quality as possible mediators in the relationship between perceived stress and reactions to patients’ memory and problem behaviors and depression.Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. The study sample consisted of 72 family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease who completed a set of questionnaires that included the Perceived Stress Scale, the Chinese Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-efficacy, and the Revised Memory and Behavior Checklist (RMBPC).Results: The results indicated that both higher perceived stress and RMBPC reaction scores were directly and indirectly associated with higher depressive symptoms. A specific domain of caregivers’ self-efficacy and sleep quality mediated the indirect path.Conclusion: These findings suggest that caregiving self-efficacy and sleep quality may function as mechanisms through which perceived stress and reactions influence depressive symptoms and that this mechanism may be domain specific.