ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic added a new stress source for caregivers. Many aspects influence the potential depressive or anxiety symptomatology in caregivers. This study explored the association among COVID-19 related stressors, insomnia, leisure, and caregivers’ depression and anxiety. 101 family caregivers of people with dementia were asked about COVID-19 related stressors, insomnia, leisure, depression and anxiety symptoms. Four regression models with caregivers’ depression and anxiety symptoms as dependent variables were tested. Four potential mediation models were investigated. Two of them had insomnia as the independent variable and leisure as a mediator, and the other two had leisure as the independent variable and insomnia as a mediator. Regression models accounted for 48% and 40.6% of the variance in depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The four mediator models were statistically significant. Findings suggest two potential mechanisms affecting caregivers’ distress during the pandemic. Insomnia and leisure significantly contributed to explain caregivers’ anxiety and depressive symptoms, even after controlling for COVID-19 related stressors. Provision of resources to increase the chances of caregivers engaging in leisure activities, alongside a reduction of barriers potentially limiting good sleep, may contribute significantly to improving the depression and anxiety symptoms of family caregivers.

摘要

COVID-19 大流行为护理人员增加了新的压力源。许多方面影响照顾者潜在的抑郁或焦虑症状。本研究探讨了与 COVID-19 相关的压力源、失眠、休闲以及照顾者的抑郁和焦虑之间的关联。101 名痴呆症患者的家庭照顾者被问及与 COVID-19 相关的压力源、失眠、休闲、抑郁和焦虑症状。测试了以照顾者的抑郁和焦虑症状为因变量的四个回归模型。研究了四种潜在的中介模型。其中两人以失眠为自变量，休闲为中介，另外两人以休闲为自变量，失眠为中介。回归模型占抑郁和焦虑症状方差的 48% 和 40.6%，分别。四种中介模型具有统计学意义。研究结果表明，在大流行期间影响照顾者痛苦的两种潜在机制。即使在控制了与 COVID-19 相关的压力源之后，失眠和休闲也极大地解释了照顾者的焦虑和抑郁症状。提供资源以增加看护者参与休闲活动的机会，同时减少可能限制良好睡眠的障碍，可能有助于改善家庭看护者的抑郁和焦虑症状。即使在控制了与 COVID-19 相关的压力源之后。提供资源以增加看护者参与休闲活动的机会，同时减少可能限制良好睡眠的障碍，可能有助于改善家庭看护者的抑郁和焦虑症状。即使在控制了与 COVID-19 相关的压力源之后。提供资源以增加看护者参与休闲活动的机会，同时减少可能限制良好睡眠的障碍，可能有助于改善家庭看护者的抑郁和焦虑症状。