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Expressive social support buffers the impact of care-related work interruptions on caregivers' depressive symptoms
- Authors:
- ANG Shannon, MALHOTRA Rahul
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(6), 2018, pp.755-763.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objective: To assess if expressive and instrumental social support from family and friends moderate the association of care-related work interruptions (e.g. leaving work for the older adult's doctor appointment) with depressive symptoms among working family caregivers of older adults. Methods: Data were from the Singapore Survey on Informal Caregiving (SSIC). A subsample of 662 dyads, each comprising an older care-recipient [home-dwelling Singaporean aged 75 and older receiving human assistance for at least one activity of daily living (ADL)] and his/her working family caregiver, was analysed. Caregiver depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Care-related work interruptions were scaled through the Mokken scaling procedure. Expressive social support was assessed using a scale by Pearlin and co-workers. Instrumental social support was based on the hours of ADL help provided to the care-recipient by any family member or friend, on behalf of the primary caregiver. A linear regression model, with interaction terms, assessed expressive and instrumental social support as moderators of the association of care-related work interruptions with caregiver depressive symptoms. Results: More care-related work interruptions were associated with more caregiver depressive symptoms. And, this association was moderated by expressive, but not instrumental, social support. Conclusion: The findings conform to previous qualitative work suggesting that caregivers’ mental health may not benefit from instrumental support, but from receiving expressive support instead. Initiatives for improving the care experience of working caregivers of older adults should focus on promoting expressive support from their friends and family. (Edited publisher abstract)
Buddhism-as-a-meaning-system for coping with late-life stress: a conceptual framework
- Author:
- XU Jianbin
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 22(1), 2018, pp.100-108.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Religion is increasingly conceptualised as a meaning system for adjustment and coping. Most of the conceptualisations are grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition. They may thus not be applicable to Buddhism, which provides a distinct tenor of meaning for coping. This article seeks to construct a conceptual framework of Buddhism-as-a-meaning-system for coping with late-life stress. Method: Literature review and conceptualisation were employed. Results: Under this framework, Buddhism functions as a meaning system involving existential meaning, cognitive meaning, and behavioural meaning. Conclusion: There is reason to believe that this framework promises to offer a holistic conceptual map of Buddhist coping in late life. Thus, it could serve as a guide for further empirical and theoretical exploration in the uncharted terrains of Buddhist coping in old age. In addition, gerontological practitioners could use this framework as a frame of reference when working with elderly Buddhist clients who are in stressful circumstances. (Publisher abstract)