Factors related to depression in primary caregivers of older adults with dementia in the COVID-19 pandemic era: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors related to depression in the primary caregivers of older adults with dementia at home during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Methods: The participants were 114 primary caregivers of older adults with dementia living in the community. Data were collected from August 2020 to October 2020 using questionnaires on activities of daily living, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in older adults with dementia, and social participation, mindfulness, and depression in primary caregivers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The average age of the subjects was 64.6±13.9 years, females accounted for 54.4%, and the average caregiving duration was 4.55±2.73 years. After controlling for the factors of the older adults with dementia and primary caregivers, the strongest factor of depression was mindfulness. Total explanatory power was 55% by adding 18.0% explanatory power of mindfulness. The related factors of depression were mindfulness (β=-.46, p<.001), social participation (β=-.28, p<.001), monthly income (β=-.23, p=.009), and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (β=.20, p=.018). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of mindfulness was confirmed in the depression of primary caregivers of older adults with dementia at home. Therefore, it is necessary to provide interventions to improve the changeable level of mindfulness from the early stage of dementia diagnosis to prevent depression in primary caregivers.