title: The evaluation of perceived stress and associated factors in elderly caregivers.
abstract: Factors associated with perceived stress in older people have been studied previously, but this investigation in elderly caregivers is still scarce in the literature. Our aim was to assess factors that are associated with perceived stress in a sample of elderly caregivers.
  
  
  
  This cross-sectional investigation assessed 341 elderly caregivers who cared for a dependent older person at home. They answered questionnaires including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), a sociodemographic and care characterization, health and cognitive status, and burden related to care.
  
  
  
  The mean score in PSS-14 was 18.5±9.9. Self-reported pain, difficult to sleep, "very poor/poor" self-rated health, impaired cognitive status, more people living in the house and higher levels of burden related to care were associated with higher levels of perceived stress.
  
  
  
  The results highlight the importance of the development of stress-reduced interventions directed to elderly caregivers focusing on the associated variables in this study. Attention should be given to cognitive decline prevention and strategies to avoid or reduce burden in the elderly caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Departament of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: bruna_luchesi@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Bruna Moretti
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Luchesi
authors.affiliation: Departament of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Érica Nestor
authors.initials: ÉN
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Departament of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Departament of Gerontology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Cristina Martins
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gratão
authors.affiliation: Departament of Gerontology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Grace Angélica de Oliveira
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Departament of Gerontology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Keika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inouye
authors.affiliation: Departament of Gerontology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tiago da Silva
authors.initials: Tda S
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.affiliation: Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sueli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Departament of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Departament of Gerontology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sofia Cristina Iost
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pavarini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012890:Sleep; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Aged care; Caregiving; Mental health; Perceived stress