From Burden to Depressive Symptoms in Informal Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Path Analysis

Tatjana Rajovic, Natasa Todorovic, Milutin Vracevic, Nina Rajovic, Andrija Pavlovic, Vedrana Pavlovic, Igor Grbic, Rosa Sapic, Slavica Krsmanovic, Marijana Vukmirovic, Tamara Stanisavljevic, Ksenija Markovic, Tanja Mostic, Dejana Stanisavljevic and Natasa Milic
Additional contact information
Tatjana Rajovic: Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Natasa Todorovic: Red Cross of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Milutin Vracevic: Red Cross of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Nina Rajovic: Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Andrija Pavlovic: Department of Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Vedrana Pavlovic: Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Igor Grbic: Department for Neurology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Rosa Sapic: Department of Occupational Therapy, College for Social Work, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Slavica Krsmanovic: Medical School, Academy of Applied Studies Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Marijana Vukmirovic: Center for Informatics and Biostatistics Belgrade, Public Health Institute, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Tamara Stanisavljevic: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Ksenija Markovic: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Tanja Mostic: Department of Anesthesiology, Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Dejana Stanisavljevic: Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Natasa Milic: Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: Background: The objective of this study was to assess the complex relationship between the multiple determinants of the caregiving process, the caregiver burden, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a nationally representative sample (n = 798) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia from March to September 2020. A nine-section questionnaire designed for this study included the characteristics of caregivers, characteristics of care and care recipients, COVID-19 related questions, and the following standardized instruments: 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Fatigue Severity Scale, Activities of Daily Living Scale and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. Path analysis was used for the simultaneous assessment of the direct and indirect relationships of all determinants. Results: More than two thirds (71.9%) of informal caregivers experienced a burden, and more than one quarter (27.1%) had depression symptomatology. Self-rated physical health, need for psychosocial support, and caregiver burden were the main direct predictors of depression. Multiple determinants of the caregiving process had indirect effects on depressive symptomatology via the caregiver burden as a mediating factor. Conclusions: The subjective burden presented a significant risk factor for depressive symptoms in caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The provision of psychosocial support was identified as an important opportunity to reduce depressive risk in informal caregivers.

Keywords: informal caregiver; the COVID-19; burden; depression; psychosocial support; mental health; path analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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