THE IMPACT OF DEMENTIA CAREGIVING ON SLEEP AND DEPRESSION: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND RURAL-URBAN DIFFERENCES - abstract citation

Sep 29, 2026

Dementia caregivers show higher psychological distress than non-dementia caregivers, especially sleep disturbances and depression, yet the pathways and context shaping these links are not well understood. Using National Study of Caregiving data (NSOC, N=1,422), a moderated mediation analysis tests whether dementia caregiving predicts depressive symptoms through interrupted sleep and whether social support moderates this link. Results show more sleep disturbances and depression among dementia caregivers, with social support strengthening the indirect effect. However, rural-urban analyses suggest effects appear only for urban caregivers; rural caregivers show no significant associations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Psychological distress in dementia caregiving

Moderated mediation and social support

Rural-urban subgroup findings

Implications for interventions and policies

882 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2984 THE IMPACT OF DEMENTIA CAREGIVING ON SLEEP AND DEPRESSION: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND RURAL-URBAN DIFFERENCES Heehyul Moon1, Sunshine Rote1, Ann Folker2, and Kathryn Williams Sites1, 1. University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States, 2. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States Dementia caregivers experience greater psychological distress, including sleep disturbances and depression, compared to non-dementia caregivers. Poor sleep is a key predictor of depressive symptoms, yet the role of social support and rural-urban differences in shaping these associations remains unclear. Using data from the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC, N = 1,422), this study applies moderated mediation analysis to examine whether dementia caregiving predicts depressive symptoms via interrupted sleep and whether social support moderates this relationship. In addition, separate analyses were conducted for rural and urban caregivers to assess contextual differences. Results indicate that dementia caregivers report significantly more sleep disturbances than non-dementia caregivers, which in turn contribute to higher levels of depression. Social support moderatesthe relationship between sleep disturbances and depression, with dementia caregivers who receive greater support exhibiting a Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 883 stronger indirect effect of caregiving on depression through sleep disruptions compared to non-dementia caregivers. However, separate rural-urban analyses revealed that these effects were present only among urban caregivers. Among rural caregivers, dementia caregiving was not significantly associated with sleep disturbances or depression, suggesting that traditional stress and coping models may not fully capture the experiences of rural caregivers. These findings underscore the need for interventions targeting sleep health and social support among dementia caregivers, particularly in urban settings. Also, alternative frameworks may be necessary to address the unique challenges faced by rural caregivers. Understanding these contextual differences is crucial for developing targeted policies and support systems to improve caregiver mental health and well-being.

FAQs

How does dementia caregiving affect sleep and depression in the study?

Dementia caregivers report significantly more sleep disturbances than non-dementia caregivers, and these sleep disturbances contribute to higher depression levels.

What role does social support play in the relationship between sleep disturbances and depression?

Social support moderates the relationship, with dementia caregivers receiving greater support showing a stronger indirect effect of caregiving on depression through sleep disruptions.

What differences did the study find between rural and urban caregivers?

The observed effects were present only among urban caregivers. Among rural caregivers, dementia caregiving was not significantly associated with sleep disturbances or depression.

Sep 29, 2026

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