Self-efficacy and well-being in the association between caregiver burden and sleep quality among caregivers of elderly patients having multiple chronic conditions in rural China: a serial multiple mediation analysis

Background Caregivers of elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions have heavy caregiver burden and poor sleep quality, which has an important impact on both caregivers and patients.

This study aimed to examine among rural caregivers of elderly patients who have multiple chronic conditions in China, whether self-efficacy and well-being mediate the link between caregiver burden and sleep quality.

Methods The study recruited 325 caregivers of elderly patients having multiple chronic conditions in rural China.

Several measures including the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and Index of Well-Being (IWB) were utilized to collect data.

Structural equation modeling was employed to study the relationships among caregiver burden, sleep quality, self-efficacy, as well as well-being.

Results Significant correlations were found between the measured variables (each p  < 0.01).

Self-efficacy and well-being acted as mediators in the link between caregiver burden and sleep quality, accounting for 10.94% and 15.63% of the total effect, respectively.

In addition, self-efficacy and well-being had a serial multiple mediating effect in the association between caregiver burden and sleep quality, with this mediating pathway, explaining 9.93% of the total effect.

Conclusions Caregivers of elderly patients having multiple chronic conditions in rural China experienced poor sleep quality due to the caregiver burden.

Self-efficacy and well-being had serial mediating roles on the relationship between caregiver burden and sleep quality.

Effective interventions should be developed to improve self-efficacy and well-being of caregivers, reduce their caregiver burden and, eventually, improve their sleep quality.