Objective: Examine the association of perceived self-efficacy in symptom management and community support service use with physical, psychological, and social well-being of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) family caregivers.
Background: LBD is characterized by complex neuropsychiatric symptoms that impose high burden on family caregivers. Prior small, single-site studies suggest stronger associations between caregiver self-efficacy and adverse outcomes in LBD than in Alzheimer’s disease, but large-scale analyses across multiple well-being domains are lacking. We examined associations between caregiver self-efficacy and physical, psychological, and social outcomes in a nationwide cohort of LBD caregivers.
Method: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 450 LBD family caregivers enrolled in PERSEVERE (R01AG079128). Caregivers completed the Fortinsky Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale assessing confidence in symptom management and community support service use. Pearson correlation coefficients evaluated associations between self-efficacy domains and validated measures of sleep quality, perceived social support, depression, caregiver strain, and loneliness.
Results: Among 450 LBD caregivers, higher self-efficacy in both symptom management and service use correlated with better sleep quality (r=-0.17, p<0.001; r=-0.23, p<0.001; lower scores indicate better sleep), better social support (r=0.32, p<0.001; r=0.34, p<0.001), and lower levels of depression (r=-0.45, p<0.001; r=-0.40, p<0.001), loneliness (r=-0.31, p<0.001; r=-0.31, p<0.001) and strain (r=-0.44, p<0.001; r=-0.34, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Greater self-efficacy in managing symptoms and using support services is associated with better physical and psychosocial well-being among LBD caregivers. Interventions that enhance self-efficacy may improve caregiver physical and psychosocial well-being; in turn, improvements in the latter may enhance self-efficacy.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M. Tharp, J. Hemm, S. Chen, V. Koliqi, E. Stevens, K. Fargo, R. Otto, D. Mariani, S. Seshadri, C. Bentley, T. Manak, A. Miller, C. Pensyl, C. Pierce, M. Voss, B. Ouyang, J. Chodosh, J. Fleisher. Self-Efficacy in Lewy Body Dementia Family Caregivers Is Associated with Better Sleep Quality and Social Support, and Lower Depression, Loneliness, and Strain [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/self-efficacy-in-lewy-body-dementia-family-caregivers-is-associated-with-better-sleep-quality-and-social-support-and-lower-depression-loneliness-and-strain/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/self-efficacy-in-lewy-body-dementia-family-caregivers-is-associated-with-better-sleep-quality-and-social-support-and-lower-depression-loneliness-and-strain/