Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Depression among Family Caregivers of Chemical Warfare Elderly Veterans

Abstract

Aims: In the world, many elderly people are cared by informal caregivers. Caring for elderly people with a special condition such as veterans can affect the mental health of caregivers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy and depression among the family caregivers of chemical warfare elderly veterans. Instruments & Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study carried out among 142 family caregivers of chemical warfare elderly veterans in Sardash in 2018. The subjects were selected using purposive sampling method. The data were collected through Center for Epidemiological Study of Depression Scale (CES-D) and Sherer’s General Self-Efficacy (GSES) and were analyzed by SPSS 21 software using Chi square, Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and logistic regression tests. Findings: The prevalence of depression among caregivers was 52.8%. The subjects in the age group of 41-50 years old, high economic status, born in the village and with self-efficacy had lower depression. Also, the dimension of “intention of behavior” had the highest effect on the change in the depression score. Moreover, caregivers who had higher self-efficacy (OR=0.918; CI=0.859-0.981) and higher age (OR=0.932; CI=0.875-0.993) were less depressed, and caregivers who had high economic status were less depressed (OR=0.267; CI=0.065-0.948). Conclusion: Family caregivers of chemical warfare elderly veterans with higher self-efficacy, higher age and, high economic status are less depressed.

Keywords

• depression
• self-efficacy
• caregivers
• elderly
• chemical warfare
• veterans