Psychological flexibility in the work-caregiving interplay of employed family caregivers of people with dementia (DAILY-FLEX): Protocol of an experience sampling study
Nahal Amini Moghaddam, Sara Laureen Bartels, Michaela Schok, Arnold B. Bakker, Golnaz Atefi, Marine Markaryan, Marjolein de VugtBackground
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.