Mental health of senile dementia caregivers in nursing homes in Shenyang and its influencing factors

Objective To investigate the mental health and its correlated factors for senile dementia caregivers in nursing homes in Shenyang. Methods Questionnaire survey was conducted among 174 senile dementia caregivers recruited from the Nursing Home of Shenyang and Shenyang Social Welfare Institute by using Symptom Check-List-90 (SCL-90), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and self-designed general information questionnaire and to analyze the scores of self rating scale of nursing staff, the total score of social support scale, and the factors affecting the mental health status of nursing staff. Results The SCL-90 scores of senile dementia caregivers with education levels from illiteracy, primary school or junior high school, high school or secondary school, college or above were 130.50±10.11, 132.70±12.55, 135.06±9.15, 129.24±8.83, the difference was statistically significant (F=15.05, P<0.01). The SCL-90 scores of senile dementia caregivers with poor, general and good perceived health status were 133.40±10.52, 132.60±11.32, 128.00 ±10.02, the differences were statistically significant (F=9.07, P<0.01). The SCL-90 scores of family monthly income of 1 001 to 3 000 yuan, 3 001 to 5 000 yuan and more than 5 001 yuan were 132.90±10.39, 132.80±11.52, 131.50±8.20, the difference was statistically significant (F=12.11, P<0.01). The multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the regression coefficient of perceived health status was -0.168 (t=2.880, P<0.01), monthly family income was -0.145 (t=-2.512, P<0.05), SSRS was 0.121 (t=2.112, P<0.05). Conclusions Mental health status of senile dementia caregivers in Shenyang is poor. The health sector should take some measures to improve the degree of social support, nursing staff wages and to ensure their health in order to promote physical and mental health of nursing staff and the nursing level so as to improve the quality of life of the senile dementia elderly. Key words: Aged; Mental Health; Influencing factors