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Peer-reviewedCC BYPLOS One

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 Moghaddam1
  • Sara Laureen Bartels1,2
  • Michaela Schok3
  • Arnold B Bakker4,5,6,7,8
  • Golnaz Atefi9,10
  • Marine Markaryan1
  • Marjolein de Vugt1
10 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
  2. 2Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
  3. 3Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  4. 4Center of Excellence for Positive Organizational Psychology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
  5. 5School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
  6. 6School of Management, Human Resource Management, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland.
  7. 7Department of Psychology, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.
  8. 8Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  9. 9Radboud University Medical Centre, IQ Health, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
  10. 10Radboud Alzheimer Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Abstract

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.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{moghaddam2026psychological,
  title = {{Psychological flexibility in the work-caregiving interplay of employed family caregivers of people with dementia (DAILY-FLEX): Protocol of an experience sampling study}},
  author = {Nahal Amini Moghaddam and Sara Laureen Bartels and Michaela Schok and Arnold B Bakker and Golnaz Atefi and Marine Markaryan and Marjolein de Vugt},
  journal = {PLOS One},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0361760},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361760},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Psychological flexibility in the work-caregiving interplay of employed family caregivers of people with dementia (DAILY-FLEX): Protocol of an experience sampling study
AU  - Nahal Amini Moghaddam
AU  - Sara Laureen Bartels
AU  - Michaela Schok
AU  - Arnold B Bakker
AU  - Golnaz Atefi
AU  - Marine Markaryan
AU  - Marjolein de Vugt
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/30
JO  - PLOS One
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pone.0361760
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361760
AB  - 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.
SN  - 1932-6203
ER  -