Association Between Character Strengths and Caregiver Burden: Hope as a Mediator

Caregiver burden is the negative impact that caregivers perceive as a result of their caregiving tasks. According to the stress process model, contextual variables and primary and secondary stressors produce negative mental health outcomes in caregivers. However, this relationship may be buffered by psychological resources which act as mediators/moderators. Although there is research on the mediating/moderating effect of mastery, coping strategies, and social support, the effect of psychological values remains unexplored. This study aimed to explore, after controlling for contextual variables and stressors, which character strengths are associated with caregiver burden. We also sought to analyze the mediating/moderating effect of character strengths on the relationship between burden and the significant contextual variables and stressors. To this end, a sample of 115 caregivers of people diagnosed with dementia completed a questionnaire battery. Correlational analysis, multiple regression modeling, and mediation and moderation analysis were performed. The results revealed that the caregivers who experience the greatest burden are those who live with the care recipient, who score higher on perceived stress, who feel their leisure time is limited, and who perceive more financial strain. Higher scores on caregiver burden were associated with lower scores on hope, zest, social intelligence, and love. Regression modeling indicated that hope was the strength which best predicted burden and that hope mediated the relationship between perceived stress and burden. No moderation effect was found. The results suggest that hope-based programs could enhance positive emotions and reduce the perceived negative impact of caregiving.