Moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relation between behavior problems in persons with dementia and the distress they cause in caregivers.
INTRODUCTION
Behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) are the principal sources of stress in caregivers. The aim of the present work is to analyze the moderating effect of self-efficacy for managing BPSD on the distress these problems generate in family caregivers.


METHOD
The participants were 231 family caregivers of people with dementia. We assessed the frequency and caregiver distress associated with three dimensions of BPSD (depressive, disruptive and memory problems). In addition, we assessed the moderating effect of self-efficacy for dealing with BPSD in the relationship between the dementia patient's frequency of BPSD and caregiver distress through hierarchical regression analyses, one for each of the dimensions of BPSD.


RESULTS
We found a moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relation between the frequency of BPSD and the distress in caregivers for the dimensions of depressive and disruptive behaviors. Caregivers having to deal with a high frequency of behavior problems but with high levels of self-efficacy presented significantly lower levels of distress associated with depressive and disruptive behavior problems compared to those caregivers with low levels of self-efficacy. No differences in the effects of self-efficacy were found for distress levels of caregivers who dealt with low frequency of BPSD. Also, we did not find a moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relation between the frequency of memory problems and caregivers' distress.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that self-efficacy for managing BPSD attenuates the relation between the frequency of behavior problems – both disruptive and depressive – and the distress they cause in caregivers.
['Nogales-González|C|C|', 'Romero-Moreno|R|R|', 'Losada|A|A|', 'Márquez-González|M|M|', 'Zarit|S H|SH|']
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D001526:Behavioral Symptoms D017028:Caregivers D017281:Cost of Illness D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003704:Dementia D003863:Depression D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008569:Memory Disorders D008875:Middle Aged D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales D020377:Self Efficacy D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D013315:Stress, Psychological
moderation self-efficacy behavior problems caregiving behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) Alzheimer's disease