Caregivers who provide care for older adults with dementia face various physical, psychological, and emotional demands that may lead to emotional stress. Coping mechanisms are considered an important strategy for managing these demands during the caregiving process. This study aimed to examine the relationship between coping mechanisms and emotional stress levels among caregivers of older adults with dementia at UPT PSTW Magetan.

This study employed a quantitative correlational design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 25 formal caregivers were recruited using the total sampling technique. Data were collected using the Brief COPE questionnaire to assess coping mechanisms and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Stress Subscale to measure emotional stress levels. Data were analyzed using Fisher's Exact Test.

The results showed that 13 caregivers (52.0%) had adaptive coping mechanisms, while 16 caregivers (64.0%) had normal emotional stress levels. Statistical analysis revealed a p-value of 1.000 (p > 0.05), indicating no significant relationship between coping mechanisms and emotional stress levels among caregivers of older adults with dementia at UPT PSTW Magetan.

The study concludes that coping mechanisms were not significantly associated with emotional stress levels among caregivers of older adults with dementia. These findings suggest that emotional stress may also be related to factors other than coping mechanisms.