A systematic review of coping and pre-death grief among dementia family caregivers

OBJECTIVES: Research on grief among family caregivers of individuals with dementia has seen a notable increase. Our objective was to synthesize the relationship between coping factors and pre-death grief (PDG). DESIGN: (Prospero protocol: CRD42024560208) We conducted a systematic review of literature from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Medline up to July 2024. Included studies encompassed quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. During the study selection process, we excluded data on intervention effectiveness and studies not published in English. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Evidence was summarized narratively. PARTICIPANTS: Participants in this study are family caregivers who take care of dementia patients. METHODS: We included data from 12 studies in our analysis. The majority of these investigations were carried out in Western countries. The research primarily involved spousal or adult child caregivers and centered on PDG. We included validated measures of PDG in each study. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Among the reviewed studies, five reported on coping strategies, while seven addressed coping resources. Overall, the findings indicated that the application of coping strategies, specifically positive coping strategies, is effective in alleviating PDG and mitigating the effects of caregiving burden on PDG. Coping resources - including self-efficacy, sense of coherence, and support from friends and family - appear to have a beneficial impact in reducing PDG. Additionally, the quality of relationships with friends and family members was found to be a significant factor. Moreover, spiritual and religious beliefs, along with community faith, have been identified as crucial elements in alleviating grief experienced by caregivers. CONCLUSION: Knowing what coping strategies and resources are beneficial to decrease PDG experiences among dementia caregivers.