ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the main and mediating influences of stressors, a caregiver's appraisal, coping, personal conditions and social resources on the burden of dementia caregivers. METHOD: The study sample consisted of 95 spousal caregivers of non-institutionalized persons with dementia. A path-analytic approach was used to test the conceptual model. RESULTS: The most important factors that were related to burden were the social and behavioural problems of the person with dementia; perceiving the caregiver role as a threat; perceived instrumental support; and the caregiver's functional health status and self-efficacy. The results showed no support for the mediating role of appraisal and coping on the relationship between the demands of the caregiving situation and burden. CONCLUSION: Although we found insufficient support for the empirical tenability of the hypothesised model, this study revealed some new findings of practical interest. The relationships found suggest that it might be possible to reduce the caregiving burden by improving the social functioning of the person with dementia, the caregiver's perceptions and the caregiver's capacity to function in daily life.
