OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the sociodemographic profile, levels of negative emotional states (specifically depression, anxiety, and stress) and caregiver strain among Filipino family caregivers of geriatric patients with dementia seen at the outpatient Aged Care and Wellness Unit of National Center for Mental Health, a tertiary government hospital in Metro Manila. It also sought to identify associations between these psychological variables and the caregivers’ sociodemographic characteristics. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2025 using purposive sampling. A total of 127 family caregivers participated. Data were gathered through a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Descriptive statistics summarized responses and associations were analyzed using chi-square tests. RESULTS: Most caregivers were female (60.6%), middle-aged (mean = 44.6 years), and unemployed (33.1%). While 76.4% exhibited normal depression scores, 23.6% experienced mild to extremely severe depression. Over half (57.5%) reported anxiety and 70.1% showed mild to severe stress. Nearly all experienced burden, with 49.6% reporting mild-to-moderate and 34.6% moderate-to-severe strain. Significant associations were observed between anxiety and kinship (p = 0.031), between stress and age (p = 0.041), sex (p = 0.005), kinship (p = 0.009), and level of assistance provided (p = 0.044). Depression, anxiety, and stress were all strongly correlated with caregiver strain (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Caregiving for dementia patients is associated with substantial emotional distress and burden, regardless of socio-demographic background. Integrating caregiver support into dementia management is crucial to mitigate strain and promote psychological well-being.

Authors:
Bridget Nancy Coote, National Center for Mental Health, Philippines
Maurice Sañosa, National Center for Mental Health, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Bridget Nancy Coote is a Psychiatrist at the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City, National Capital Region, Philippines.

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