Psychological flexibility in the work-caregiving interplay of employed family caregivers of people with dementia (DAILY-FLEX): Protocol of an experience sampling study

BACKGROUND: Employed family caregivers of people with dementia face competing work and caregiving demands that can negatively affect well-being across both domains. The Work-Home Resources model proposes that demands and resources influence cross-domain functioning through changes in personal resources. Psychological flexibility (PF), the ability to remain open to difficult experiences while acting in line with personal values, may represent a dynamic personal resource in this process. However, its real-time role in the daily work-caregiving interface remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: This protocol describes the DAILY-FLEX study, which aims to investigate momentary and daily bidirectional spillover between work and caregiving demands/resources and domain-specific well-being, and to examine whether PF mediates these associations. METHODS: This observational intensive longitudinal study uses Experience Sampling Methodology combined with baseline assessment. A minimum of 30 employed family caregivers of people with dementia will be recruited in the Netherlands through memory clinics, caregiver networks, and community outreach. Participants will complete a baseline questionnaire followed by a 14-day ESM protocol consisting of eight semi-random momentary assessments and one evening questionnaire per day using the m-Path smartphone application. Momentary assessments capture contextual demands and resources, PF, caregiving-related affect, and work engagement. Evening questionnaires assess daily work and caregiving demands/resources, PF, general well-being, and daily job satisfaction. Multilevel mixed-effects models and longitudinal mediation analyses will be used to examine lagged cross-domain spillover and PF as a within-person mediator. DISCUSSION: This study provides a fine-grained examination of how work and caregiving interact in daily life among employed family caregivers of people with dementia. By focusing on PF as a dynamic mediating mechanism, the study may identify actionable targets for tailored psychosocial interventions and workplace support strategies aimed at improving caregiver well-being and sustainable employment.