Cognitive dysfunction and disturbed daily activities of people with dementia impact the psychological stress in family caregivers depending on their anxiety and depression severity

Abstract

Care for individuals with dementia, predominantly provided by family members, was associated with significant physical and emotional stress. Existing guidelines for supporting caregivers were frequently based on limited evidence. A cross-sectional clinical study involving 104 pairs of caregivers and individuals with dementia was conducted. The study evaluated psychological stress, anxiety, and depression levels among family caregivers, alongside the severity of dementia and challenges with daily activities faced by the individuals with dementia. The findings demonstrated that the severity of dementia in patients had a statistically significant impact on the psychological stress experienced by family caregivers, as did the challenges associated with daily activities. Furthermore, caregiver anxiety was shown to exacerbate their psychological burden, an effect amplified by greater difficulties in daily activities and higher dementia severity. Additionally, it was observed that caregivers’ psychological stress increased in correlation with heightened levels of depression, irrespective of the severity of dementia or the patient’s difficulties with daily activities.