IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i18p9577-d633433.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From Burden to Depressive Symptoms in Informal Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Path Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Tatjana Rajovic

    (Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
    First co-authors.)

  • Natasa Todorovic

    (Red Cross of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
    First co-authors.)

  • Milutin Vracevic

    (Red Cross of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Nina Rajovic

    (Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Andrija Pavlovic

    (Department of Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Vedrana Pavlovic

    (Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Igor Grbic

    (Department for Neurology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia)

  • Rosa Sapic

    (Department of Occupational Therapy, College for Social Work, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Slavica Krsmanovic

    (Medical School, Academy of Applied Studies Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Marijana Vukmirovic

    (Center for Informatics and Biostatistics Belgrade, Public Health Institute, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Tamara Stanisavljevic

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Ksenija Markovic

    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Tanja Mostic

    (Department of Anesthesiology, Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Dejana Stanisavljevic

    (Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
    Senior co-authors.)

  • Natasa Milic

    (Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
    Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
    Senior co-authors.)

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the complex relationship between the multiple determinants of the caregiving process, the caregiver burden, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a nationally representative sample (n = 798) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia from March to September 2020. A nine-section questionnaire designed for this study included the characteristics of caregivers, characteristics of care and care recipients, COVID-19 related questions, and the following standardized instruments: 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Fatigue Severity Scale, Activities of Daily Living Scale and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. Path analysis was used for the simultaneous assessment of the direct and indirect relationships of all determinants. Results: More than two thirds (71.9%) of informal caregivers experienced a burden, and more than one quarter (27.1%) had depression symptomatology. Self-rated physical health, need for psychosocial support, and caregiver burden were the main direct predictors of depression. Multiple determinants of the caregiving process had indirect effects on depressive symptomatology via the caregiver burden as a mediating factor. Conclusions: The subjective burden presented a significant risk factor for depressive symptoms in caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The provision of psychosocial support was identified as an important opportunity to reduce depressive risk in informal caregivers.

Suggested Citation

  • Tatjana Rajovic & Natasa Todorovic & Milutin Vracevic & Nina Rajovic & Andrija Pavlovic & Vedrana Pavlovic & Igor Grbic & Rosa Sapic & Slavica Krsmanovic & Marijana Vukmirovic & Tamara Stanisavljevic , 2021. "From Burden to Depressive Symptoms in Informal Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Path Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9577-:d:633433
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/18/9577/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/18/9577/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yu Yu & Zi-wei Liu & Bing-wei Tang & Mei Zhao & Xi-guang Liu & Shui-yuan Xiao, 2017. "Reported family burden of schizophrenia patients in rural China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Rafael del-Pino-Casado & Marta Rodríguez Cardosa & Catalina López-Martínez & Vasiliki Orgeta, 2019. "The association between subjective caregiver burden and depressive symptoms in carers of older relatives: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Martin Pinquart & Silvia Sörensen, 2003. "Associations of Stressors and Uplifts of Caregiving With Caregiver Burden and Depressive Mood: A Meta-Analysis," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(2), pages 112-128.
    4. Rafael del-Pino-Casado & Antonio Frías-Osuna & Pedro A Palomino-Moral & María Ruzafa-Martínez & Antonio J Ramos-Morcillo, 2018. "Social support and subjective burden in caregivers of adults and older adults: A meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-18, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Cedomir Ustevic & Nina Rajovic & Dejana Stanisavljevic & Danijela Tiosavljevic & Andrija Pavlovic & Radica Tasic & Tatjana Rajovic & Jovana Grupkovic & Filip Pilipovic & Vedrana Pejin & Petar Milcanov, 2023. "From Sarcopenia to Depressive Symptoms in Elderly: A Path Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-14, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rafael del-Pino-Casado & Marta Rodríguez Cardosa & Catalina López-Martínez & Vasiliki Orgeta, 2019. "The association between subjective caregiver burden and depressive symptoms in carers of older relatives: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Cristina Gagliardi & Flavia Piccinini & Giovanni Lamura & Georgia Casanova & Paolo Fabbietti & Marco Socci, 2022. "The Burden of Caring for Dependent Older People and the Resultant Risk of Depression in Family Primary Caregivers in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Rafael del-Pino-Casado & Emilia Priego-Cubero & Catalina López-Martínez & Vasiliki Orgeta, 2021. "Subjective caregiver burden and anxiety in informal caregivers: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-20, March.
    4. Juan Francisco Velarde-García & Carmen Ortego-Maté & Carmen Sarabia-Cobo & Aroa Delgado Uria & Rosario Fernández-Peña, 2024. "Impact of the Pandemic on Dementia Care and Caregivers: A Qualitative Study," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 33(4), pages 240-252, May.
    5. Yukie Nakajima & Steven M. Schmidt & Agneta Malmgren Fänge & Mari Ono & Toshiharu Ikaga, 2019. "Relationship between Perceived Indoor Temperature and Self-Reported Risk for Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-12, February.
    6. Yin LiuPhD & Jooyoung KongPhD & Lauren R BangerterPhD & Steven H ZaritPhD & David M AlmeidaPhD, 2018. "Early Parental Abuse and Daily Assistance to Aging Parents With Disability: Associations With the Middle-Aged Adults’ Daily Well-being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 73(5), pages 59-68.
    7. Katharina Geschke & Annika Steinmetz & Andreas Fellgiebel & Alexandra Wuttke-Linnemann, 2024. "The Influence of Resilience on Caregiver Burden, Depression, and Stress in the Course of the COVID-19 Lockdowns," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    8. Perla Werner & Aviad Tur-Sinai & Hanan AboJabel, 2021. "Examining Dementia Family Caregivers’ Forgone Care for General Practitioners and Medical Specialists during a COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, April.
    9. Longobardo, Luz María Peña & Rodríguez-Sánchez, Beatriz & Oliva, Juan, 2023. "Does becoming an informal caregiver make your health worse? A longitudinal analysis across Europe," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    10. María Gómez-Gallego & Juan Cándido Gómez-Gallego, 2021. "Predictors of Caregiver Burden of Patients with Alzheimer Disease Attending Day-Care Centres," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-9, October.
    11. Yueh-Feng Yvonne Lu & May Wykle, 2007. "Relationships Between Caregiver Stress and Self-Care Behaviors in Response to Symptoms," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 16(1), pages 29-43, February.
    12. Rossarin Soottipong Gray & Umaporn Pattaravanich, 2020. "Internal and external resources, tiredness and the subjective well-being of family caregivers of older adults: a case study from western Thailand, Southeast Asia," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 349-359, September.
    13. repec:hum:wpaper:sfb649dp2013-035 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Pavel Bachmann, 2020. "Caregivers’ Experience of Caring for a Family Member with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Content Analysis of Longitudinal Social Media Communication," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-22, June.
    15. Chi-Hsuan Fan & Shih-Chieh Hsu & Fei-Hsiu Hsiao & Chia-Ming Chang & Chia-Yih Liu & Yu-Ming Lai & Yu-Ting Chen, 2021. "The Association of Social Support and Symptomatic Remission among Community-Dwelling Schizophrenia Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-14, April.
    16. Diego Montano & Richard Peter, 2022. "Informal care-giving and the intention to give up employment: the role of perceived supervisor behaviour in a cohort of German employees," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 575-585, September.
    17. Ronald Kamoga & Vincent Mubangizi & Judith Owokuhaisa & Moses Muwanguzi & Sylivia Natakunda & Godfrey Zari Rukundo, 2023. "Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: Prevalence, Symptom Severity, and Caregiver Distress in South-Western Uganda—A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    18. Lawrence B. Sacco & Stefanie König & Hugo Westerlund & Loretta G. Platts, 2022. "Informal Caregiving and Quality of Life Among Older Adults: Prospective Analyses from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 845-866, April.
    19. Man-Man Peng & Hong-Lin Chen & Tin Zhang & Yong-You Yao & Zi-Han Li & Lan Long & Qing-Qing Duan & Fu-Rong Lin & Ya Zen & Jia Chen & Siu-Man Ng & Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan & Mao-Sheng Ran, 2019. "Disease-related stressors of caregiving burden among different types of family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia in rural China," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(7-8), pages 603-614, November.
    20. Joukje Swinkels & Theo van Tilburg & Ellen Verbakel & Marjolein Broese van Groenou, 2019. "Explaining the Gender Gap in the Caregiving Burden of Partner Caregivers," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 74(2), pages 309-317.
    21. Ceres Ferretti & Flávia M Sarti & Ricardo Nitrini & Fernando F Ferreira & Sonia M D Brucki, 2018. "An assessment of direct and indirect costs of dementia in Brazil," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9577-:d:633433. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.