Self-Efficacy Change Among Diverse Family Caregivers in Dementia Care

Authors

• Deborah M Oyeyemi
• Erich J Greene
• Yunshan Xu
• David R Lee
• Rafael Samper-Ternent
• Maya L Lichtenstein
• Alan Stevens
• Jeff D Williamson
• Arun S Karlamangla
• Debra Saliba
• David B Reuben

Language

English

Publication Date

1-12-2026

Journal

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B

DOI

10.1093/geronb/gbaf233

PMID

41243731

PMCID

PMC13376956

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

11-14-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether changes in caregiver self-efficacy (beliefs about one's ability to manage dementia-related problems and access help) differed by caregiver race and ethnicity across all participants enrolled in a large pragmatic trial of comprehensive dementia care.

Methods: In the Dementia Care Study (D-CARE), community-dwelling older adults with dementia and their unpaid family caregivers were randomized to receive usual care, community-based, or health system-based comprehensive dementia care. Caregiver self-efficacy was assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 18 months using a 4-item scale (range 4-20, higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy). Among all caregivers, we compared least squares means for overall change in self-efficacy from baseline across racial and ethnic groups (Latino, non-Latino Black, and non-Latino White).

Results: Among 2,126 dementia caregivers, 205 self-identified as Latino, 247 as non-Latino Black, and 1,674 as non-Latino White. Mean baseline caregiver self-efficacy scores were between 13.1 and 13.6 for all racial and ethnic groups. The least squares mean for self-efficacy change was between +1.53 and +1.66 from the baseline for all racial and ethnic groups. Caregiver self-efficacy change did not differ significantly by caregiver race and ethnicity.

Discussion: Black, Latino, and White dementia caregivers reported similar improvements in caregiver self-efficacy after participating in a comprehensive dementia care trial. Personalized aspects of comprehensive dementia care appear to address the needs of diverse caregiver populations.

Keywords

Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Black or African American, Caregivers, Dementia, Hispanic or Latino, Self Efficacy, White, Care models, Caregiving, Diverse populations

Comments

Clinical trials registration: NCT03786471.

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Oyeyemi, Deborah M; Greene, Erich J; Xu, Yunshan; et al., "Self-Efficacy Change Among Diverse Family Caregivers in Dementia Care" (2026). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 1506.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthsph_docs/1506