When caring becomes a challenge: A path analysis of coping in Alzheimer's disease caregiving

BackgroundNeuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) affect most individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are among the most burdensome aspects of the condition, negatively influencing caregivers' mental health, burden, and quality of care.ObjectiveGiven the scarcity of studies examining caregivers' characteristics and NPS simultaneously, this study investigated how sociodemographic and clinical factors relate to different coping strategies, and whether NPS moderate these associations. Path analysis was used to capture direct and conditional effects.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 176 caregiver-patient dyads assessed coping, burden, mood, and NPS. Path analysis examined the effects of caregiver education, burden, depressive symptoms, and sex on coping, with NPS as a moderator.ResultsHigher education predicted greater use of problem-focused (β = 0.43, p < 0.001) and dysfunctional coping (β = 0.22, p < 0.01). Burden was negatively linked to emotion-focused coping (β = -0.17, p < 0.05). NPS moderated the burden-problem-focused coping link (β = -0.16, p < 0.05).ConclusionsEducation plays a central role in shaping how caregivers cope with care demands. NPS moderated the relationship between caregiver burden and problem-focused coping, with limited influence on other strategies. These findings underscore the importance of considering both caregiver characteristics and patient-related factors when developing interventions, highlighting the need for personalized approaches to improve caregiver well-being and care outcomes.