Factors Influencing Psychological Distress in Caregivers of People with Dementia

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This predictive research aimed to examine the influences of gender, perceived patients’ ability to perform activities of daily living, perceived impact of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), perceived caregiver burden, and perceived social support on the psychological distress of family caregivers of persons with dementia. Methods: The sample consists of 172 family caregivers of persons with dementia who received services at the outpatient department of a hospital in Bangkok and met the inclusion criteria. The research tools used in this study included a demographic questionnaire, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index, a Thai tool for assessing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, the Thai Burden Interview for Caregivers of Patients with Chronic Illness, and Social Support Scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Results: The research findings revealed that 26.2% of the sample experienced psychological distress. Multiple regression analysis indicated that gender, perceived patients’ ability to perform activities of daily living, perceived impact of BPSD, perceived caregiver burden, and perceived social support could jointly explain 66.3% of the variance of psychological stress of family caregivers of persons with dementia (R² = 0.663, F = 65.303, p < 0.001). The factors that significantly influenced psychological distress in family caregivers of dementia were perceived caregiver burden (β = 0.693, p < 0.001) and perceived impact of BPSD (β = 0.164, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The findings from this study can serve as a basis for developing strategies to reduce or prevent psychological distress in family caregivers of persons with dementia.