The COVID-19 pandemic added a new stress source for caregivers. Many aspects influence the potential depressive or anxiety symptomatology in caregivers. This study explored the association among COVID-19 related stressors, insomnia, leisure, and caregivers' depression and anxiety. 101 family caregivers of people with dementia were asked about COVID-19 related stressors, insomnia, leisure, depression and anxiety symptoms. Four regression models with caregivers' depression and anxiety symptoms as dependent variables were tested. Four potential mediation models were investigated. Two of them had insomnia as the independent variable and leisure as a mediator, and the other two had leisure as the independent variable and insomnia as a mediator. Regression models accounted for 48% and 40.6% of the variance in depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The four mediator models were statistically significant. Findings suggest two potential mechanisms affecting caregivers' distress during the pandemic. Insomnia and leisure significantly contributed to explain caregivers' anxiety and depressive symptoms, even after controlling for COVID-19 related stressors. Provision of resources to increase the chances of caregivers engaging in leisure activities, alongside a reduction of barriers potentially limiting good sleep, may contribute significantly to improving the depression and anxiety symptoms of family caregivers.
Keywords: COVID-19; Sleep problems; anxiety; dementia caregiving; depression; pandemic.