Abstract
Background: Family or informal caregivers always provide support to their family members or others who are diagnosed with dementia. The increase in the aging population has led to a growing reliance on family members, often informal caregivers, who are increasingly responsible for providing care for older adults. Poor sleep and high levels of depressive cognition experienced by caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) can negatively affect their physical and psychological health, which can lead to declining caregiver health, which can diminish their ability to provide optimal care. Currently, there are limited empirical studies supporting the usefulness of non-pharmacological sleep interventions to improve the quality of sleep in caregivers of PWD.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and sleep quality of caregivers of PWD in the United States. The study examined whether resourcefulness mediated the relationship between depressive cognitions and quality of sleep.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used with 77 informal caregivers (primary caregivers who are currently providing direct care/supervision for at least 4 hours per day) for individuals with dementia for at least six months, recruited online using advertisements on social media. Linear regression and multiple regression were used to address the research questions and to test the mediation impact of resourcefulness.
Results: Depressive cognitions was a significant factor predicting resourcefulness and sleep quality. However, resourcefulness was not found to be a significant factor in predicting sleep quality. Additionally, the effect of depressive cognitions on sleep quality was not found to be mediated by resourcefulness. The caregivers of PWD in this study exhibited a higher level of depressive cognitions, poorer sleep quality, and a moderate need for learning resourcefulness skills.
Implications: The findings emphasized the importance of evaluating depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and sleep in caregivers of PWD to maintain their psychological and physical well-being. Additionally, further exploration of resourcefulness and sleep quality would benefit from utilizing different sleep quality measures and a different way of conceptualizing quality of life.
Notes
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Sigma Membership
Alpha Mu
Lead Author Affiliation
Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Stress and Coping, Primary Care, Public and Community Health, Caregivers, Caregivers--Psychosocial Factors, Dementia, Caregiver Burden, Depression, Cognition, Sleep Quality
Recommended Citation
Almutairi, Rayhanah R., "Depressive Cognitions, Resourcefulness, and Sleep in Informal Caregivers of Persons with Dementia" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 38.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/38
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-23
Depressive Cognitions, Resourcefulness, and Sleep in Informal Caregivers of Persons with Dementia
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Family or informal caregivers always provide support to their family members or others who are diagnosed with dementia. The increase in the aging population has led to a growing reliance on family members, often informal caregivers, who are increasingly responsible for providing care for older adults. Poor sleep and high levels of depressive cognition experienced by caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) can negatively affect their physical and psychological health, which can lead to declining caregiver health, which can diminish their ability to provide optimal care. Currently, there are limited empirical studies supporting the usefulness of non-pharmacological sleep interventions to improve the quality of sleep in caregivers of PWD.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and sleep quality of caregivers of PWD in the United States. The study examined whether resourcefulness mediated the relationship between depressive cognitions and quality of sleep.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used with 77 informal caregivers (primary caregivers who are currently providing direct care/supervision for at least 4 hours per day) for individuals with dementia for at least six months, recruited online using advertisements on social media. Linear regression and multiple regression were used to address the research questions and to test the mediation impact of resourcefulness.
Results: Depressive cognitions was a significant factor predicting resourcefulness and sleep quality. However, resourcefulness was not found to be a significant factor in predicting sleep quality. Additionally, the effect of depressive cognitions on sleep quality was not found to be mediated by resourcefulness. The caregivers of PWD in this study exhibited a higher level of depressive cognitions, poorer sleep quality, and a moderate need for learning resourcefulness skills.
Implications: The findings emphasized the importance of evaluating depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and sleep in caregivers of PWD to maintain their psychological and physical well-being. Additionally, further exploration of resourcefulness and sleep quality would benefit from utilizing different sleep quality measures and a different way of conceptualizing quality of life.
Description
The findings emphasized the importance of evaluating depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and sleep in caregivers of PWD to maintain their psychological and physical well-being. Additionally, further exploration of resourcefulness and sleep quality would benefit from utilizing different sleep quality measures and a different way of conceptualizing quality of life.