Time Usage and Satisfaction Based on Occupational Area Between Weekdays and Weekends of Family Caregivers and Non-family Caregivers of Dementia Patients.

Abstract

Background and objectives: The number of people with dementia and the burden on families to care for them are increasing. As a result, families are affected in their use of time to carry out daily activities. This study compared family caregivers of dementia patients (dementia family) and non-family caregivers of dementia patients (non-dementia family), reflecting their characteristics on weekdays and weekends.

Methods: There were 92 participants each in the groups dementia family and non-dementia family. Each group was divided into 121 people on weekdays and 71 people on weekends. Time usage was measured by occupational area. The variables assessed were "lack of time," "tiredness," "life satisfaction," and "leisure satisfaction." Variables including "house chores sharing" and "role division" were also assessed. The time usage of the Korea National Statistical Office's 2019 "time use survey" was reclassified based on the occupational areas of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework-Fourth Edition, and time usage and satisfaction were analyzed. Frequency analysis and independent t -test were used for statistical processing.

Results: On weekdays, the dementia family showed less time usage in the "leisure" area for men and "social participation" area for women than the non-dementia family. On weekends, dementia family showed less time usage in the "activities of daily living" (ADLs) area than the non-dementia family and women in dementia family showed less time usage in "ADLs" area compared to women in the non-dementia family. Satisfaction was found to be higher in terms of "lack of time" and "tiredness" on weekdays and "tiredness" on weekends in dementia family than in the non-dementia family.

Conclusions: Time usage and satisfaction of dementia family and non-dementia family showed differences during weekdays and weekends. These results suggest that for family caregivers of dementia patients, it is necessary to improve the efficient use of time and satisfaction during weekdays and holidays.