Physical Activity, Stress, Burden, and Quality of Life of Caregivers of Older Adults With Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Providing care for older adults with dementia generates stress and challenges, impacting quality of life (QoL). Physical activity offers benefits, and the link between physical activity levels (PAL) and these factors during the pandemic can be further explored. This study aimed to examine associations between PAL, stress, burden, and QoL among dementia caregivers during COVID-19. METHODS: Eighty-nine caregivers of older adults with mild to moderate dementia participated in the study. The online assessment included a medical history questionnaire, the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Zarit Burden Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and the Alzheimer's Disease Quality of Life Scale-Caregiver Version. Spearman's rho was used to examine correlations between PAL and stress, burden, and QoL. A generalized linear model (gamma distribution) analyzed associations between metabolic equivalents per week and stress, burden, and QoL. RESULTS: A negative correlation between metabolic equivalents per week and burden (ρ = -.26, p = .014) indicated that higher PAL was correlated to lower burden. A positive correlation between metabolic equivalents per week and QoL (ρ = .34, p = .001) showed that higher PAL was associated with better QoL. No correlation was found between PAL and stress. However, significant associations were observed between PAL and both burden, χ2(1) = 5.065, p = .024, and QoL, χ2(1) = 6.983, p = .008. CONCLUSIONS: Higher PAL in dementia caregivers is associated with lower burden and better QoL. Significance/Implications: Promoting physical activity may improve caregivers' QoL and reduce burden, guiding future research.

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