Promoting resilience in primary caregivers of people with dementia through health programmes: a systematic review

Background Given dementia's global public health impact and the substantial burden borne by family caregivers, there is a need to shift from deficit-focused models towards understanding and promoting caregiver resilience as a dynamic protective process. Objective To synthesise the available evidence on the influence of support programmes on resilience among family caregivers of people with dementia. Information sources Four electronic databases (WoS, Scopus, PubMed y CINAHL) covering peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2025. Methods A systematic review was reported in accord with the PRISMA reporting guidelines and a PROSPERO-registered protocol, independent study selection and data extraction, quality appraisal using JBI tools, and a narrative synthesis of findings applying the SWiM approach and thematic analysis. Results A total of 21 studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included. The intervention studies evaluated mindfulness-based, psychoeducational, counselling, cognitive–behavioural, arts-based, and peer-support programmes. Several studies reported improvements in resilience or related caregiver outcomes, including burden, psychological distress, coping, and quality of life, although results varied across interventions and study designs. Complementary observational, qualitative, and measurement evidence identified self-efficacy, adaptive coping, social support, and relationship quality as mechanisms relevant to programme influence, whereas behavioural and neuropsychiatric symptoms of the person with dementia were associated with lower resilience. Sustained follow-up appeared relevant to maintaining programme-related benefits. Conclusions Support programmes may strengthen resilience and improve related health and well-being outcomes among family caregivers of people with dementia, particularly when they include psychoeducational, counselling, mindfulness-based, or sustained follow-up components. However, the heterogeneity of interventions and study designs limits firm conclusions regarding their effectiveness. Registration This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024550450) Social media abstract A systematic review (2015–2025) suggests that support programmes may strengthen resilience and related well-being among family caregivers of people with dementia, although effects vary across interventions.