Examining the Role of Dementia Worry in the Caregiver Burden Process

Abstract

Dementia’s progressive nature requires care, often by unpaid family members, leading to significant caregiver burden (CB). Dementia worry (DW)—the anxiety about developing dementia—has been linked to exposure to people with dementia, but its relationship with CB remains unclear. This study investigates the role of DW in CB among Greek family caregivers, using Pearlin’s Stress Process Model. A cross-sectional survey of 285 caregivers assessed CB, DW, social support, coping strategies, and perceptions of the care recipient’s cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Findings revealed that caregivers’ DW significantly mediated the relationship between their perceptions of the care recipient’s symptoms and their own CB. Maladaptive coping strategies were directly associated with higher CB, while adaptive strategies and social support were not. These results support the inclusion of DW as a secondary intrapsychic stressor in Pearlin’s model and suggest that addressing DW in interventions may help reduce CB and improve caregiver well-being.