Structural Equation Model Analysis of Mental Health Status and Influencing Factors of Family Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease

Tian Zhuying; Yang Yaxing; Nie Xiaohua

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-5775.2025.01.004

Abstract：Objective:To construct a structural equation model of the mental health status and influencing factors of family caregivers of Alzheimer's disease,so as to provide theoretical guidance for improving the mental health of family caregivers of Alzheimer's disease.Methods:138 patients with senile dementia and their family caregivers were selected from different medical institutions by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling.The care burden of caregivers,the degree of family care and the social function of patients were evaluated.Results:There were significant differences in the scores of diet,sleep,psychosis,terror,anxiety,depression,interpersonal sensitivity,obsessive symptoms and somatization,and the total score of SCL-90 compared with the national norm(t=12.82,6.00,4.12,10.86,9.27,13.18,8.90,16.41,12.15,P＜0.05).The scores of role burden and personal burden of caregivers were(9.58±7.32)and(9.74±5.42),respectively.The total score of care burden was(37.42±16.38).Only 19.0%of caregivers felt no or little care burden,33.0%of caregivers felt light burden,and 48.0%of caregivers thought personal burden was heavy.Caregivers'social function,family care and care burden were correlated with their symptom self-score(P＜0.05).Patients'social function was correlated with caregivers'family care,social support and care burden(P＜0.05).The results of effect analysis showed that the total effects of care burden,patient social function,family care and social support on family mental health were 0.118,0.114,-0.197 and-0.016.Conclusion:There are some psychological problems in family caregivers.Caregivers'care burden,patients'social function,family care and social support are closely related to caregivers'mental health.Active intervention of various factors is helpful to improve the level of family caregivers'mental health.