Factors Associated With Depression Among Family Caregivers of Patients With Stroke in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional...

Strokes may lead to increased dependency, which may impact the daily lives of patients with stroke and their family caregivers. Caring for a poststroke family member in Indonesia may differ from other countries in terms of extending beyond the provision of hands-on care. Contradictions and gaps in the factors affecting caregiver depression have been highlighted in a review of the relevant literature. Few studies have examined comprehensively the contradictory factors, uncovered factors, and cultural and spiritual values affecting this phenomenon.

This study was designed to identify the factors associated with depression in family caregivers of patients with stroke in Indonesia. We examined the following factors related to caregiver depression: demographic characteristics of the caregiver and care recipient, functional ability of the patient, caregiver self-efficacy, knowledge regarding stroke care, and spiritual values.

In this cross-sectional study, 157 primary caregivers completed questionnaires involving depression factors during face-to-face interviews. The data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

The prevalence of depression among the participants was 56.7%. The overall mean ages of the participants and their care recipients were 43.6 and 57.1 years, respectively. In this study, 65.6% of the participants were female, and 70.1% lacked knowledge regarding stroke care. In the early caregiving phase, caregiver depression was more likely to occur in female caregivers with back pain and long care hours. Self-efficacy in achieving respite time was found to be associated with a lower risk of depression.

Caregivers' gender, presence of back pain, sufficient respite time, and time since stroke occurrence should be considered when providing knowledge, skills, and coping strategies to caregivers to help them adapt to their caregiving role, maintain their quality of life, and prevent the onset of depression. Understanding the factors influencing caregiver depression may help nursing professionals identify individuals at a higher risk of depression early on and provide critical follow-up and early access to supportive counseling.