Table 2 Characteristics of participants on the intervention and control arms at baseline: randomized sample and study completers

Age (years), M (SD)

49 (12.1)

58.1 (12.5)

52.2 (10.9)

58.8 (12.4)

.166^a

.034^a

Gender, Female, n (%)

17 (81.0)

16 (76.2)

9 (81.8)

15 (75.0)

1^b

1^b

Years of schooling, M (SD)

15.8 (4.2)

15.2 (4.2)

15.6 (5.0)

15.1 (4.2)

.520^a

.405^a

Marital status, Partnered, n (%)

12 (57.1)

14 (66.7)

7 (63.6)

14 (70.0)

1^b

.281^b

Occupational status, Employed, n (%)

14 (66.7)

13 (61.9)

7 (63.6)

12 (60.0)

1^b

.717^b

Age (years), M (SD)

73.8 (10.7)

78.9 (8.4)

75.3 (9.1)

79.2 (8.6)

.215^a

.169^a

Gender, Female, n (%)

17 (81.0)

15 (71.4)

9 (81.8)

15 (75.0)

1^b

1^b

Type of dementia

.698^b

.453^b

    Alzheimer’s disease, n (%)

16 (76.2)

13 (61.9)

8 (72.7)

12 (60.0)

    Other/unknown, n (%)

5 (23.8)

8 (38.1)

3 (27.3)

8 (40.0)

Time since diagnosis (years), Mdn (IQR)

4 (5)

4 (4.5)

2 (3)

3.5 (4.8)

.134^a

.349^a

Dependence level

.707^b

.484^b

    Mild/moderate, n (%)

10 (47.6)

11 (52.4)

7 (63.6)

10 (50.0)

    Total/severe, n (%)

11 (52.4)

10 (47.6)

4 (36.4)

10 (50.0)

Caregiving duration (years), Mdn (IQR)

3 (3)

3 (5.5)

3 (2)

3 (6.3)

.786^a

.517^a

Hours caring (per week), Mdn (IQR)

30 (46)

28 (71)

36 (36)

29 (73.5)

.679^a

.031^a

Support for caregiving, Yes, n (%)

15 (71.4)

15 (71.4)

7 (63.6)

14 (70.0)

1^b

.464^b

Relationship with the care recipient

1^b

.234^b

    Offspring, n (%)

17 (81.0)

14 (66.7)

8 (72.7)

13 (65.0)

    Spouses, n (%)

4 (19.0)

7 (33.3)

3 (27.3)

7 (35.0)

Cohabitation, Yes, n (%)

14 (66.7)

13 (61.9)

9 (81.8)

12 (60.0)

.262^b

.481^b

Internet use frequency, Mdn (IQR)

1 (0)

1 (0)

1 (0)

1 (0)

.644^a

.216^a

Attitudes towards OPIs (OPI-BAS), M (SD)

22.3 (2.6)

21.3 (2.3)

22.5 (2.6)

21.5 (2.3)

.249^a

.524^a

Caregiver burden (ZBI)

37.7 (11.3)

37 (10.9)

37.8 (13.1)

37.1 (11.2)

.901^a

.897^a

Anxiety symptoms (HADS-A)

11.2 (4.0)

8.3 (3.6)

10.1 (4.6)

8 (3.4)

.165^a

.007^a

Depression symptoms (HADS-D)

8 (5.2)

6 (3.9)

6.6 (5.2)

6.1 (4.0)

.983^a

.105^a

Positive aspects of caregiving (PAC)

36.2 (9.3)

39.6 (8.2)

35.8 (6.1)

39.6 (8.4)

.159^a

.920^a

General Self-efficacy (GSE)

29.8 (5.4)

31.2 (4.6)

28.5 (4.9)

31.3 (4.7)

.190^a

.818^a

    Physical

26 (4.1)

26.8 (4.3)

26.5 (4.4)

27 (4.4)

.739^a

.154^a

    Psychological

21.6 (4.5)

22.8 (3.7)

22.7 (4.6)

22.9 (3.8)

.885^a

.108^a

    Social relationships

9.7 (2.9)

10.3 (2.7)

10.4 (2.8)

10.1 (2.6)

.492^a

.428^a

    Environment

29 (4.5)

29.5 (4.2)

29.3 (4.0)

29.3 (4.2)

.967^a

.730^a

    General

7.2 (1.3)

6.9 (1.6)

7.6 (1.3)

6.8 (1.5)

.131^a

.883^a