title: Moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relation between behavior problems in persons with dementia and the distress they cause in caregivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) are the principal sources of stress in caregivers. The aim of the present work is to analyze the moderating effect of self-efficacy for managing BPSD on the distress these problems generate in family caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 231 family caregivers of people with dementia. We assessed the frequency and caregiver distress associated with three dimensions of BPSD (depressive, disruptive and memory problems). In addition, we assessed the moderating effect of self-efficacy for dealing with BPSD in the relationship between the dementia patient's frequency of BPSD and caregiver distress through hierarchical regression analyses, one for each of the dimensions of BPSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relation between the frequency of BPSD and the distress in caregivers for the dimensions of depressive and disruptive behaviors. Caregivers having to deal with a high frequency of behavior problems but with high levels of self-efficacy presented significantly lower levels of distress associated with depressive and disruptive behavior problems compared to those caregivers with low levels of self-efficacy. No differences in the effects of self-efficacy were found for distress levels of caregivers who dealt with low frequency of BPSD. Also, we did not find a moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relation between the frequency of memory problems and caregivers' distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that self-efficacy for managing BPSD attenuates the relation between the frequency of behavior problems – both disruptive and depressive – and the distress they cause in caregivers.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nogales-González
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero-Moreno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Losada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Márquez-González
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Zarit
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; behavior problems; behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD); caregiving; moderation; self-efficacy