Gender Differences in Caregiver Burden Among Family Caregivers of Persons With Dementia

Objectives: The current study aimed to identify gender-dependent factors that influence caregiver burden among family caregivers of persons with dementia through secondary data analysis. Methods: We used a nationally representative survey of 379 family caregivers of persons with dementia completed in 2014. We examined factors affecting the burden experience of male and female caregivers, guided by the stress process model, using hierarchical regression. Results: The analytic sample included 159 males (42%) and 220 females (58%). For males, age of care recipient, being an adult child, social support, instrumental activities of daily living performed, and caregiving impact on caregivers' health influenced burden. For females, co-residence, social support, caregivers' current health, and caregiving impact on caregivers' health impacted burden. Conclusions: Understanding gender differences related to caregiving burden is beneficial for developing effective targeted interventions that support the caregiving role and improve the quality of life of caregivers.