Table 4.

Direct, indirect, and total, effects of structural model (standardized regression coefficients and 95% CIs). Note: Direct and total effects were obtained through MLR estimation while 95% confidence intervals of indirect effects were obtained by bootstrapping. Disease progression was measured using the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, caregiver strain was measured using the Caregiver Strain Index, relationship closeness was measured using the Relationship Closeness Scale, and Objective Attitude was measured using a novel questionnaire.

Path	Standardized β (95% CI)	P-Value
Total effect (via objective attitude) of disease progression on relationship closeness	−0.233 (−0.351, −0.113)	<0.001
Indirect effect (via objective attitude) of disease progression on relationship closeness	−0.483 (−0.602, −0.364)	<0.001
Total effect (via objective attitude) of disease progression on caregiver strain	0.323 (0.234, 0.412)	<0.001
Indirect effect (via objective attitude) of disease progression on caregiver strain	0.089 (−0.027, 0.206)	0.131
Direct effect of disease progression on relationship closeness	0.250 (0.117, 0.384)	0.013
Direct effect of disease progression on objective attitudes	0.584 (0.482, 0.687)	<0.001
Direct effect of disease progression on caregiver strain	0.231 (0.051, 0.411)	<0.001
Direct effect of objective attitudes on relationship closeness	−0.827 (−0.951, 0-.703)	<0.001
Direct effect of objective attitudes on caregiver strain	0.153 (−0.043, 0.349)	0.128
Direct effect of caregiver strain with relationship closeness	−0.192 (−0.336, −0.049)	0.011