Table 2 Informal caregiver’s self-reported depression symptoms and the independent variables, between Italy and Sweden

Background and Context

 Gender ^a

 Male

6.28 (4.08)

3.43 (2.66)

0.419

 Female

7.89 (4.32)

4.24 (3.53)

 Age (years) ^a

 < 39

7.00 (4.55)

5.80 (5.50)

0.741

 40–54

6.72 (4.19)

3.33 (2.63)

 55–69

7.49 (4.23)

4.18 (3.39)

 > 70

8.14 (4.45)

3.48 (2.65)

 Marital status ^a

 Not Married

7.55 (4.28)

4.32 (3.64)

0.637

 Married

7.35 (4.32)

3.69 (2.98)

 Education ^a

 Elementary school

7.48 (4.14)

3.60 (3.06)

0.104

 Gymnasium/ secondary

7.09 (4.63)

3.61 (3.42)

 University

7.96 (4.18)

5.23 (2.59)

 Living with persons with dementia ^{a b}

 No

6.86 (4.20)

3.85 (3.45)

0.627

 Yes

7.67 (4.35)

3.85 (2.78)

 Physical health, disease count

 0–2

7.39 (4.19)

3.82 (3.19)

0.544

 3 or more

7.36 (5.07)

4.40 (2.51)

 Type of relationship with persons with dementia ^a

 Wife/ husband (spouse)

8.16 (4.38)

3.97 (2.80)

0.616

 Child

6.93 (4.25)

3.86 (3.42)

 Other

7.46 (4.22)

3.00 (3.52)

Primary Stressors of Dementia

 Severity of disease, MMSE ^d

 Normal (25+)

5 (1.41)

6 (n.a.)

0.150

 Mild (21–25)

7.71 (4.54)

2.89 (2.20)

 Moderate (10–20)

7.38 (4.30)

4.23 (3.53)

 Inappropriate behaviours ^e

 No

7.38 (4.43)

3.40 (2.86)

0.046

 Yes

7.41 (3.96)

5.09 (3.54)

 ADL dependency ^c

 0–2

7.23 (4.14)

3.84 (3.18)

–

 3–6

8.07 (4.95)

–

 Total hours of caregiving/ day ^{f g}

 ≤ 5

7.49 (4.71)

3.54 (3.81)

0.098

 ≥ 6

7.01 (4.03)

3.83 (3.19)

Secondary Stressors of Dementia

 Occupation ^c

 Not actively working

7.37 (4.47)

4.10 (3.03)

0.188

 Actively working

7.41 (4.12)

3.33 (3.01)

Mediators

 Additional caregiver support ^a

 No

8.27 (3.91)

4.09 (2.89)

0.247

 Yes

7.18 (4.38)

3.61 (3.41)

 Number of additional caregivers ^a

 0–1

7.23 (4.12)

3.78 (3.07)

0.835

 2 or more

7.87 (4.81)

4.04 (3.43)