Loneliness predicts dementia-caregiver burden better than extent, nature
and length of caregiving or support service-use
Authors
M. Pertl
J. Rogers
A. Galvin
M. Maher
S. Brennan
I. Robertson
B. Lawlor
Abstract
Background: Caring for a spouse with dementia can lead to high levels
of burden and stress, which may ultimately compromise caregivers’ psychological health and
quality of life. We examined contributing factors to caregiver burden to inform the development
of targeted caregiver interventions. Method: 226 spousal dementia caregivers completed
standardised psychological (depression, anxiety, self-efficacy), social (loneliness, social
isolation), caregiving (length and extent of caregiving, support service-use) and burden
measures, as well as measures of care-recipient symptom severity and disability, as part of a
longitudinal study on caregiver cognitive functioning. Results: Burden was not related to
length, nature or extent of caregiving, or support service-use. Depression, self-efficacy for
symptom management, and symptom-related distress significantly explained 55% of the variation
in caregiver burden; however, emotional loneliness and social isolation made additional unique
contributions (∆R2=.03). Discussion: Higher levels of burden are primarily related to
caregivers’ psychological wellbeing, social isolation and loneliness, rather than level of
disability, length or extent of caregiving. Interventions need to address the impact of
dementia care on loneliness and social isolation to protect caregivers from the stresses
associated with caring.