title: Leisure Time Activities and Mental Health in Informal Dementia Caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dementia prevalence and the demand for dementia care are increasing. Informal caregiving accounts for a large proportion of dementia care, but can come at high cost for caregivers. Informal dementia caregivers are at higher risk for mental health problems than the general population. This study examines whether perceived change in leisure activities is one working mechanism linking stress and burden experience in dementia caregiving to lower mental health (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and reduced satisfaction with life), and whether there are group-based leisure activities that can buffer this detrimental effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 346 informal Australian dementia caregivers (88.15% female, age 18-82 years) participated in an online study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mediation and moderation analyses using multiple regression demonstrated that perceived changes in leisure activities linked caregiving stress and burden to lower mental health, and that membership in groups engaging in affiliation or social activities attenuates negative effects of caregiving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Informal dementia caregivers benefit from satisfying leisure activities. In particular, engaging in social activities and self-help groups buffered the negative impact of caregiving.
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schüz
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Alana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czerniawski
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Davie
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Kate-Ellen J
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Jenn L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013648:Tasmania; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anxiety; depression; informal dementia caregivers; leisure activities; social activities; well-being