Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Family caregivers often face significant challenges, such as insufficient sleep, fatigue due to aging, difficulty engaging in social activities, and fewer interactions with friends and neighbors. However, some family caregivers manage to maintain active lifestyles while providing home care. This study is aimed at exploring the relationship between family caregivers' sense of coherence (SOC) and their perception of caregiving burden. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 74 family caregivers of community-dwelling older adults who used day-care insurance services; 64 were included in the final analysis. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included the SOC-13 scale, rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors influencing caregivers' perception of caregiving burden, with SOC subfactors serving as explanatory variables. RESULTS: Comprehensibility, one of the SOC subscales, showed a significant negative association with caregiver burden, and the association was strengthened after adjustment (Model 2: B = -0.376, β = -0.534, p = 0.005). Daily caregiving hours were positively associated with burden, whereas meaningfulness and manageability were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of comprehensibility in influencing caregivers' sense of burden. The findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between caregivers' SOC and their perceived caregiving burden. Moreover, they emphasize the relevance of this relationship to the field of occupational therapy, as occupational therapists can play a key role in enhancing caregivers' comprehensibility, thereby helping them alleviate the caregiving burden through targeted interventions. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings underscore the importance of promoting comprehensibility among family caregivers to alleviate their perceived burden and support sustained caregiving. Occupational therapy interventions focused on improving caregivers' understanding of the caregiving process can contribute to better mental and physical health outcomes, benefiting both caregivers and care recipients.