The Mediating Role of Caregiver Burden in Explaining the Causal Relationship between Psychological Empowerment and Psychological Capital with Burnout in Caregivers of Elderly CentersThe Mediating Role of Caregiver Burden in Explaining the Causal Relationship between Psychological Empowerment and Psychological Capital with Burnout in Caregivers of Elderly Centers

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Caregivers of elderly centers experience burnout due to frequent exposure to the problems of the elderly and the decline in their physical, emotional, and social functioning. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of caregiver burden in explaining the causal relationship between psychological empowerment and psychological capital with burnout in caregivers of elderly centers.

Methodology: The present research was a cross-sectional from type of correlation. The research population was all caregivers of elderly centers of Karaj city in the 2025 year, which number of 254 people of them were selected as samples by voluntary sampling method. The research tools included the Psychological Empowerment Questionnaire (Spreitzer, 1995), Psychological Capital Questionnaire (Luthans et al., 2007), Caregiver Burden Inventory (Novak & Guest, 1989), and Burnout Questionnaire (Maslach & Jackson, 1981). The data of the present study were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling methods in SPSS-26 and AMOS-26 software.

Findings: The results of this study showed that the model of psychological empowerment and psychological capital with mediator of caregiver burden on burnout in caregivers of elderly centers had a good fit. In addition, the direct effect of psychological empowerment and psychological capital on caregiver burden and burnout in caregivers of elderly centers was negative and significant, and the direct effect of caregiver burden on their burnout was positive and significant. Also, the indirect effect of psychological empowerment and psychological capital with mediator of caregiver burden on burnout in caregivers of elderly centers was negative and significant (P<0.05).

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that in order to reduce burnout in caregivers of elderly centers, it is necessary to prepare the ground for increasing their psychological empowerment and psychological capital through training workshops and to reduce their burnout through improving working conditions.