The Mediating Role of Death Obsessions in the Relationship Between Caregiver Burden and Somatic Symptoms: A Study on the Informal Dementia Caregivers in India

Omega (Westport). 2024 Aug;89(3):1010-1025. doi: 10.1177/00302228221090757. Epub 2022 Apr 16.

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the caregiver burden, death obsessions, and somatic symptoms; and whether the death obsessions are playing a mediating role in the relationship between the caregiver burden and somatic symptoms. The study was done on the informal dementia caregivers residing in India. Three questionnaires in a google form were circulated. The correlational and mediation analysis revealed that there was a significant and positive correlation between the caregiver burden, death obsessions, and somatic symptoms. Further, the death obsessions significantly mediated the relationship between caregiver burden and somatic symptoms.

Keywords: India; caregiver burden; death obsessions; informal dementia caregivers; somatic symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Death
  • Caregiver Burden* / psychology
  • Caregivers* / psychology
  • Dementia* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India
  • Male
  • Medically Unexplained Symptoms
  • Middle Aged
  • Obsessive Behavior / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires