The impact of family burden on the psychological distress of informal caregivers for older adults living with dementia: The role of internal and external coping resources.

Objectives: Numerous studies have demonstrated that informal caregivers of people living with dementia (PLWD) have serious adverse psychological problems, but little research has been done on the role of integrating caregivers' various coping resources in reducing psychological effects. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the impact of caregivers' internal (self-efficacy and positive coping) and external coping resources (family function and social support) on the family burden and psychological distress.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, and a self-designed questionnaire, Family Burden Scale of Disease, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Simplified Coping Style Question, The Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, Resolve Scale and Social Support Rating Scale were completed by 193 pairs of PLWD and caregivers. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the mediating effects of coping resources.

Results: Self-efficacy, positive coping, family function, and social support respectively mediated the relationship between family burden and psychological distress (β = 0.402, β = 0.059, β = -0.111, β = 0.053; P < 0.05). Besides, the serial mediation effects of self-efficacy and positive coping, family function and social support were also significant (β = 0.104, β = 0.045; P < 0.05).

Conclusions: This study confirmed the mediating role of internal and external coping resources between family burden and psychological distress in caregivers of older PLWD, providing a theoretical basis for promoting the,mental health of caregivers.