Mediation Analysis of Leisure, Perceived Stress, and Quality of Life in Informal Caregivers

Abstract

Due to the prediction of a significant increase in older adults as well as an expected decrease in availability of professional homecare, the number of informal caregivers in the United States is expected grow exponentially by the year 2050. Unfortunately, caregivers will likely continue to experience negative health consequences due to caregiver burden. In this study, mediation analysis was used to investigate the relationship among three leisure variables, perceived stress, and quality of life of informal family caregivers. Results showed that the effect of two of the leisure variables mediated quality of life through perceived stress. Recommendations address discussion of alternative recreation programming perspectives for informal caregivers as well as further research directions to expand these findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregivers
• mediation analysis
• leisure
• perceived stress
• quality of life