UNTANGLING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AGE, RACE, FAMILY HELP AND SELF-REPORTED STRESS AMONG DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS

Q: How was self-reported caregiving stress measured in this study?

Self-reported caregiving stress reflects an individual’s cognitive appraisal of threats from caregiving stressors, where perceived demands exceed available resources.

Q: Which factors were associated with self-reported stress among dementia caregivers?

Higher frustration was strongly associated with greater caregiving stress, while higher age predicted lower stress. Black caregivers showed a decrease in self-reported stress compared with others.

Q: What did the study find about access to family help and stress?

Access to family help was associated with higher caregiving stress, despite expectations that it might reduce stress.

Sep 29, 2026

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Caregiving for older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias (ADRD) is stressful, with demands often exceeding available resources and contributing to loss of leisure, emotional exhaustion, and work overload. This study evaluates factors linked to self-reported caregiving stress among ADRD caregivers using merged data from the 2017 National Study on Caregiving (NSOC III round 7) and the NSOC Time subset (N=1341; mean age 58.3). Findings show Black caregivers report lower stress, higher age predicts lower stress, frustration is strongly associated with higher stress, and family help access relates to higher stress. Results support tailored interventions, respite care, mental health services, and caregiver training to reduce anxiety and burden.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Stress and caregiver appraisal in ADRD care

Study Methods

Data sources and merged sample

Regression analyses

Results

Associations with race and age

Role of frustration and family help

Implications

Tailored interventions and caregiver support

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 865 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2929 UNTANGLING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AGE, RACE, FAMILY HELP AND SELF-REPORTED STRESS AMONG DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS Obinna Odo1, and Tochukwu Ozor2, 1. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States, 2. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra, Nigeria Studies show that providing care to older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias [ADRD] is stressful because the care needs are often challenging and extensive. Self-reported caregiving stress is someone’s cognitive appraisal of threats emanating from caregiving stressors such that the demands of the stressors outweigh the individual’s available resources. Caregiving stress results in loss of leisure time, emotional exhaustion, and work overload, affecting caregivers’physical and emotional health. This study examined factors that 866 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 affect self-reported stress among caregivers of older adults with ADRD. Data from the 2017 National Study on Caregiving (NSOC III round 7) and the NSOC Time data subset were merged (N = 1341; Mean age = 58.3) and analyzed using bivariate and multiple linear regression analysis. Among caregivers who identified as Black, dementia caregiving was associated with a decrease in self-reported stress (β = -0.095, p < 0.05) . Age was also negatively associated with self-reported stress, with higher age predicting lower caregiving stress (β = -0.007, p < .001) . Feelings of frustration was strongly associated with caregiving stress (β = 0.492, p < .001). Surprisingly, access to family help was associated with higher caregiving stress (β = 0.12, p< 0.05). These findings underscore the need for tailored caregiving interventionsand programs that address the unique needs of dementia caregivers, such as respite care and mental health support services, to mitigate emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and burden. The study also highlights the need for family caregiver training aimed ateasing the stress on dementia primary caregivers.

FAQs

How was self-reported caregiving stress measured in this study?

Self-reported caregiving stress reflects an individual’s cognitive appraisal of threats from caregiving stressors, where perceived demands exceed available resources.

Which factors were associated with self-reported stress among dementia caregivers?

Higher frustration was strongly associated with greater caregiving stress, while higher age predicted lower stress. Black caregivers showed a decrease in self-reported stress compared with others.

What did the study find about access to family help and stress?

Access to family help was associated with higher caregiving stress, despite expectations that it might reduce stress.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by WPS_1786070896