Stress as a Risk Factor for Informal Caregiver Burden

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Informal caregivers, who provide essential support to dependent family members, often face high levels of stress and mental health problems due to the physical and emotional demands of the role. This study examined the connections between anxiety, depression, stress, and caregiver burden in informal caregivers. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 344 informal caregivers from the Valencian Community, selected by incidental sampling, took part. A total of 58.7% were female (<i>n</i> = 202) with a mean age of 46.37 years (<i>SD</i> = 14.79), while 41.3% were male (<i>n</i> = 142) with a mean age of 46.37 years (<i>SD</i> = 14.78). This study used the DASS-21 and the Zarit Burden Questionnaire. Data analysis was by structural equation modeling with latent factors. <b>Results</b>: The principal findings indicated that anxiety and depression were predictive factors for stress (<i>p</i> = 0.006, <i>p</i> = 0.002 respectively), while stress, in turn, was associated with a higher caregiver burden (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: Anxiety and depression indirectly heighten caregiver burden through increased stress.