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Family caregivers of individuals with dementia (IWDs) have an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety. Little is known about daily protective factors that mitigate this risk. The purpose of this study was to identify everyday coping strategies used by family caregivers that reduce the daily odds of experiencing depression and anxiety-related symptoms. Daily diaries were used to examine whether pleasant non-care activities with the IWD, social connection, and exercise were associated with a decrease in depression and anxiety-related symptoms. A national sample of ADRD caregivers (N=165) completed diaries over 21-days (n=2,841). Participants were asked about their daily experiences as caregivers, coping strategies, and mental health. Data were analyzed using mixed-level modeling. Depression and anxiety symptoms were endorsed by 141 (85.45%) and 155 (93.94%) participants, respectively. Social connection was associated with a decrease in the daily odds of depression (OR: 0.71, CI: 0.54 – 0.94, p=0.016) and anxiety symptoms (OR: 0.74, CI: 0.56 – 0.97, p=0.032). Caregivers were also less likely to endorse depression-related symptoms on days when engaging in a pleasant non-care activity with the IWD was reported (OR: 0.70, CI: 0.52 – 0.93, p=0.015). Finally, anxiety-related symptoms were less likely to be endorsed on days when caregivers reported engaging in exercise (OR: 0.65, CI: 0.49 – 0.86, p=0.003). The results from this study help elucidate coping strategies that may mitigate the risk of depression and anxiety associated with caregiving. These findings inform potential components for interventions to help support the health and well-being of family caregivers of IWDs.

Older adults living with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, have an increased risk of poor mental health outcomes. While a link between living with chronic illness and depression have been examined in previous studies, relatively little is known about factors that increase and decrease the risk of suicidal ideation among older adults living with chronic illness. Using data from the third wave of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) database, we examined the relationship between living with a chronic illness were more likely to endorse thinking about death in the previous two weeks ( OR=3.17, CI: 1.16 – 8.65, p=0.24). The analysis also revealed that the likelihood of suicidal ideation in the previous two weeks increased with the number of chronic conditions reported by participants (OR=1.128, CI: 1.04 – 1.23, p=0.005). The results of this study are consistent with previous studies suggesting a relationship between older adults living with a chronic condition are at a higher risk of suicidal ideation. Findings from this study can help inform intervention development to support mental health of older adults living with chronic illness. Future studies are needed to examine additional psychosocial factors that may mediate the relationship between living with a chronic illness and suicidal ideation among older adults.