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Caregiving burdens of task time and task difficulty among paid and unpaid caregivers of persons living with dementia
Matthew Lee Smith, Jodi L Southerland, Malinee Neelamegam, Gang Han, Shinduk Lee, Chung Lin Kew, Juanita-Dawne Bacsu, Elyse Couch et al.. Frontiers in Public Health, 2025-07-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Demands of caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) are often influenced by the context of their caregiving situation. This study examines common and unique factors associated with caregiving burden in terms of task time and task difficulty among paid and unpaid caregivers of PLWD. Methods Cross-sectional baseline survey data were analyzed from 107 paid and unpaid caregivers of PLWD participating in a larger NIH-funded study assessing the feasibility of using a novel in-situ sensor system. Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale constructs of task time and task difficulty served as dependent variables. Two least squares regression models were fitted, controlling for contextual items related to the caregiver, care recipient, and caregiving logistics. Results Caregivers whose care recipients were female ( B = −0.29, p = 0.006), had more chronic conditions ( B = 0.31, p = 0.011), and had lower Mini-Mental State Exam scores ( B = −0.20, p = 0.015) reported higher task time burdens. Caregivers whose care recipients had other paid caregivers ( B = 0.30, p = 0.031) and spent more months/years caring for their care recipients ( B = 0.28, p = 0.004) reported higher task time burdens. Caregivers’ task time burden was positively associated with their emotional stress level ( B = 0.30, p = 0.020). Caregivers’ task difficulty burden was positively associated with their emotional stress ( B = 0.30, p = 0.029) and depressive symptomatology ( B = 0.32, p = 0.002). Discussion Results reinforce the relationship between caregiver burden and mental health impacts. While the care recipient’s disease profile and needs were drivers of task time burden, which may also require coordination with other paid caregivers, task difficulty was emotionally driven. Findings highlight the importance of caregiver support services and programming for mental health.
Key findings
- This study examines common and unique factors associated with caregiving burden in terms of task time and task difficulty among paid and unpaid caregivers of PLWD.
- Results Caregivers whose care recipients were female ( B = −0.29, p = 0.006), had more chronic conditions ( B = 0.31, p = 0.011), and had lower Mini-Mental State Exam scores ( B = −0.20, p = 0.015) reported higher task time burdens.
- Caregivers’ task time burden was positively associated with their emotional stress level ( B = 0.30, p = 0.020).
- Caregivers’ task difficulty burden was positively associated with their emotional stress ( B = 0.30, p = 0.029) and depressive symptomatology ( B = 0.32, p = 0.002).
- Discussion Results reinforce the relationship between caregiver burden and mental health impacts.
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional study of 107 paid and unpaid caregivers, higher task time burden was associated with care recipients being female, having more chronic conditions, lower Mini-Mental State Exam scores, having other paid caregivers, and more months/years of caregiving, and task time burden was positively associated with caregivers' emotional stress. It identifies factors linked to caregiver burden but does not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in Public Health) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Public Health: journal h-index 174 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 10 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 10 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Marcia G. Ory: h-index 71 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Utah: institution h-index 1,238 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 10 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40703190) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1615187
- PubMed: 40703190
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Public Health →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Smith, M. L., Southerland, J. L., Neelamegam, M., Han, G., Lee, S., Kew, C. L., et al. (2025). Caregiving burdens of task time and task difficulty among paid and unpaid caregivers of persons living with dementia. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1615187
Vancouver
Smith ML, Southerland JL, Neelamegam M, Han G, Lee S, Kew CL, et al. Caregiving burdens of task time and task difficulty among paid and unpaid caregivers of persons living with dementia. Frontiers in Public Health. 2025. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1615187. PMID: 40703190.
BibTeX
@article{smith2025-40703190,
author = {Smith, Matthew Lee and Southerland, Jodi L and Neelamegam, Malinee and Han, Gang and Lee, Shinduk and Kew, Chung Lin and Bacsu, Juanita-Dawne and Couch, Elyse and others},
title = {{Caregiving burdens of task time and task difficulty among paid and unpaid caregivers of persons living with dementia}},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2025.1615187},
pmid = {40703190},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1615187}
}
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