Factors associated with the grief among family caregivers of patients with dementia in China

Abstract

Abstract The current study aimed to investigate the influencing factors of grief in family caregivers of patients with dementia in China. In this cross-sectional study, 202 patients with dementia and their family caregivers were surveyed with demographic questionnaire, Caregiver Burden Inventory, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, and Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory Short Form. Through multivariate linear regression analysis, we identified the influencing factors of grief. Our results showed that the scores of caregiver grief were 59.46(SD=21.10); most family caregivers experienced grief; gender of caregivers, co-residency with the patient, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and caregiver burden were the main factors associated with caregiver grief; and male and female caregivers experienced different types of caregiver burden. Future research will target nursing interventions and community services to reduce the burden and grief of caregivers of patients with dementia.