Study On The Situationand Related Factors Of Fatigueamong Family Caregivers Of Elders With Dementia

Objective: To investigate the situation and related factors of fatigueamong family caregivers of elders with dementia, and to explore therelations between family caregivers’ fatigue and burden, positive feelings,copying style and social support, so as to make a reference for reducing thefatigue of family caregivers and improving the quality of care for elderswith dementia.Methods:190family caregivers of dementia patients in Chongqingwere investigated by using Caregivers Burden Inventory, Positive Aspectsof Caregiving, Simplified Copying Style Questionnaire, Social SupportRating Scale, Fatigue Scale-14and general demographic information inthis cross-sectional survey.Results:(1) The mean score of family caregivers’ burden, positivefeelings, positive copying style, negative copying style, social support andfatigue was (51.18±8.90)、(29.20±5.48)、（17.21±4.86）、（16.16±4.57）、（30.37±4.36）、（7.95±2.72）, respectively.(2) Stepwise regression analysis showed that the situation of job, health and the time of having taken care,burden, positive aspects, copying style and social support were theinfluence factors of family caregivers’ fatigue.(3) Correlation analysisdemonstrated that the fatigue of dementia family caregivers was positivelycorrelated with burden (r=0.56, P<0.01), negative coping style (r=0.31,P<0.01)，and negatively associated with positive feelings (r=-0.33, P<0.01),social support (r=-0.36, P<0.01) and positive coping style(r=-0.55, P<0.01).(4) Path analysis illustrated that coping style and social support had directlyimpact on fatigue. Burden had directly and indirectly impact on fatiguethrough coping style or social support. Fatigue might be decreased bypositive feelings but increased by negative coping style.Conclusions:(1) Family caregivers both have moderate degree ofburden and medium high degree of positive feelings, so it is urgent to takeeffective measures to reduce the burden of family caregivers.(2) It isimminent to alleviate family caregivers’ fatigue, because they commonlyhave medium high degree of fatigue.(3) Family caregivers’ fatigue may beincreased by burden and decreased by positive feelings. What’s more,positive copying style and good social support of family caregivers ishelpful to reduce burden and relive fatigue.