The Association Between Exercise and the Well-Being of Dementia Patients' Caregivers: An Observational Study

The demands of caregiving can significantly impact the physical and emotional well-being of unpaid caregivers of individuals with dementia. They often experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Physical activity (PA) is a promising intervention for enhancing the well-being of dementia caregivers. However, little is known about the association between PA levels and the well-being of this population. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between PA and the well-being of unpaid caregivers of dementia patients.

This cross-sectional study included unpaid caregivers of dementia patients in Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono Counties, California. A 31-item questionnaire was utilized, comprising the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and the Caregiver Self-Assessment Questionnaire (CSAQ). The survey was administered from July 2023 to October 2023. Binary Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between PA (walking, sedentary behavior, vigorous PA) and caregiver well-being, controlling for demographic and health factors.

The survey included 152 respondents, mostly female (82.8%) and married (72.8%), with an average age of 56 years (SD = 8.4 years). The majority (65.6%) were aged 60 or older and had been caregivers for an average of 3.5 years. A higher level of vigorous PA was associated with better well-being (p < 0.05), whereas sedentariness and walking frequency were not. Because gender and education did not influence the association between PA and well-being, they were also associated, but not significantly (or with a lower p-value).

Vigorous PA was positively associated to better well-being in dementia caregivers, unlike sedentary behavior or walking frequency. Tailored interventions emphasizing vigorous exercise may improve caregiver well-being and ease caregiving burdens. Future longitudinal studies should investigate the reasons behind these connections.