Stress and coping strategies of caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Objective To compare stress symptoms and coping strategies among caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's disease according to sociodemographic, health, and professional variables. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted of 126 caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's disease. A questionnaire assessing caregiver sociodemographic and health profiles, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Ways of Coping Scale were applied. Data analysis was performed using the independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post-hoc test (p<0.05). Results Women made greater use of the coping strategy of seeking social support (p=0.013). Caregivers with more than one care recipient made greater use of problem-focused coping strategies (p=0.020). Caregivers engaged in formal care exhibited higher levels of stress (p=0.015) and made less use of problem-focused coping strategies (p=0.020). Conclusion Sociodemographic, health, and professional profiles are factors mediating the stress coping strategies employed by caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's disease.