Page 34 - IJSA, Vol. 6, No 2, 2023

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023
рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. Psychology

ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Personality Traits of Family Caregivers of

Individuals with Dementia: The Effects of Social
Anxiety, Social Phobia, and Caregiving Hours

Authors’ Contribution: 1,2 ABCDEF 3 BDF 4 ADE
A – Study design; Serra L. , Serpa D. , Silva L.
B – Data collection; 1 Autonomous University of Lisbon, Portugal
C – Statistical analysis; 2 Centre of Statistics and its Applications of the University of Lisbon, Portugal
D – Data interpretation; 3 Higher Institute of Intercultural and Transdisciplinary Studies of Almada –
E – Manuscript preparation; Piaget Institute of Almada, Portugal
F – Literature search; 4 NOVA School of Science and Technology – NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal
G – Funds collection Received: 04.08.2023; Accepted: 25.08.2023; Published: 25.12.2023

Abstract
Background and Caring for individuals afflicted with dementia engenders substantial demands
Aim of Study: and responsibilities for caregivers, encompassing the extensive time allocation
devoted to the care recipient on a daily basis. Furthermore, the psychological
attributes inherent in informal caregivers, encompassing traits like social anxiety
and social phobia, can exert an influence on the evolution of their personal
dynamics over time. This phenomenon potentially yields repercussions for how
caregivers offer guidance and assistance to elderly individuals grappling with
dementia, particularly in relation to their fundamental daily activities and
instrumental tasks. The aim of the study: to analyze the predictive effect of social
anxiety and social phobia as psychological characteristics of caregivers, along
with the impact of caregiving hours as caregiving-related characteristics, on
caregivers’ personality.
Material and Methods: This observational and cross-sectional study comprised a sample of 97
participants serving as primary family caregivers completed a sociodemographic
questionnaire, the Big Five Inventory, the Anxiety Scale in Social Interaction
Situations, and the Social Phobia Scale.
Results: The findings revealed that social phobia demonstrated significant predictive
power for Openness (β=-0.199; p=0.016) and Extraversion (β=-0.136; p=0.024),
whereas the daily caregiving hours negatively affected Conscientiousness (β=-
0.145; p=0.011), Agreeableness (β=-0.137; p=0.040), Openness (β=-0.210;
p=0.011), and Extraversion (β=-0.175; p=0.003). Conversely, social anxiety did
not prove to be a significant variable.
Conclusions: The presence of social phobia or higher hours devoted to caregiving for
individuals with dementia are factors that impact personality functioning and
should be considered in the planning of support programs for family caregivers.
Keywords: personality, informal caregivers, dementia, social phobia, social anxiety
Copyright: © 2023 Serra L., Serpa D., Silva L. Published by Archives of International Journal
of Science Annals
DOI and UDC DOI https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2023.2.3 UDC 159.9.072
Conflict of interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests
Peer review: Double-blind review
Source of support: This research did not receive any outside funding or support
Information about Serra Lidia (Corresponding Author) – https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2612-3335;
the authors: [email protected]; Doctor in Neuropsychology, Professor, Autonomous
University of Lisbon; Centre of Statistics and its Applications of the University of
Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
Serpa Daniela – https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1423-6930; Master’s degree in
Clinical and Health Psychology, Higher Institute of Intercultural and
Transdisciplinary Studies of Almada – Piaget Institute of Almada, Portugal.
Silva Luís – https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9811-0571; Doctor in Human Kinetics
– Motor Behavior, Investigator, NOVA School of Science and Technology – NOVA
University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal.

32