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Prediction of burden in family caregivers of patients with dementia: A perspective of optimism based on generalized expectancies of control
- Authors:
- CONTADOR Israel, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(6), August 2012, pp.675-682.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study explored the predictors of burden for informal caregivers of patients with dementia. It assessed the moderating role of generalised expectancies of control (GEC) between caregiver stress and burden. One hundred and thirty patients with dementia along with their main family caregivers were assessed from different rural areas of the province of Salamanca, Spain. Patients with dementia were assessed on dementia stage, cognitive-functional impairment and behavioural symptoms. Clinical variables of patients and GEC were considered as potential predictors of burden in the hierarchical regression analysis. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) Scale was used as an outcome measure. Findings indicated that the clinical variables could not predict burden in caregivers significantly. Family caregivers with high expectancies of self-efficacy and contingency were less vulnerable to stress. Implications for future research are discussed.
Negative impact and positive value in caregiving: validation of the COPE Index in a six-country sample of carers
- Authors:
- BALDUCCI Cristian, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 48(3), June 2008, pp.276-286.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study attempts to further validate the COPE Index on a large sample of carers drawn from six European countries (Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Poland and Germany). A cross-sectional survey was used, with approximately 1,000 carers recruited in each of six countries by means of a common standard evaluation protocol. Interviews were carried out with primary informal carers by use of a common assessment tool. Items of the COPE Index were subjected to principal component analysis and emergent components were assessed through the use of Cronbach's alpha reliability procedures. Factor components were examined as summative scales for confirmatory correlations with caregiving and psychological variables. Three components emerged, which were identified as the negative impact of caregiving, the positive value of caregiving, and the quality of support for caregiving. Internal consistency was good for negative impact and satisfactory for positive value and quality of support. Negative value was most consistently and strongly correlated with caregiving and psychological variables, although diverse associations were found between these variables and the COPE Index subscales. It is concluded that the COPE Index is a brief, first-stage assessment of some sophistication that can enable health and social care professionals to develop appropriately targeted interventions to enhance the positive aspects of the caregiving experience and quality of support, as well as reduce the negative impacts of caregiving.
Specialist clinical assessment of vulnerable older people: outcomes for carers from a randomised controlled trial
- Author:
- VENABLES Dan
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 26(6), November 2006, pp.867-882.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
'Caring for carers’ is high on the United Kingdom policy agenda for community care. Although recent policy advocates the provision of services directly to the carer, research suggests that an alternative way of helping carers is through targeting enhanced services towards the cared-for person. This paper reports a randomised controlled trial of the effects on carer distress of an additional specialist clinical assessment for vulnerable older people at risk of residential or nursing home placement. The sample was composed of 142 informal carers of older people, randomly assigned to receive either the additional specialist assessment or the usual social services assessment. Carers were assessed using the modified Social Behaviour Assessment Schedule (SBAS), and data were also collected on older peoples' service use throughout the study period. Regression analyses indicated that changes in older peoples' behaviour, as opposed to carer or service-related factors, predicted changes in carer distress, and that the carers of the older people who experienced depressive symptoms received the greatest benefit from the specialist assessment. The study suggests that an effective means of improving outcomes for carers may be to target services towards the distressing behaviours of the person for whom they care, with symptoms of depression being particularly important.
On becoming depressed or anxious in late life: similar vulnerability factors but different effects of stressful life events
- Authors:
- de BEURS Edwin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 179, November 2001, pp.426-431.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This research aimed to delineate risk factors for the decline of mental health in older persons, compares risk profiles for developing symptoms of pure depression, pure anxiety and both anxiety and depression in a prospective design. Self-report data on depression and anxiety were collected from community-dwelling older respondents on two occasions, 3 years apart. After 3 years 9% of the subjects had scored beyond the thresholds for symptoms. Vulnerability for depression and anxiety was quite similar, but life events differed: onset of depression was predicted by death of a partner or other relatives; onset of anxiety was best predicted by having a partner who developed a major illness. No support for moderator effects between vulnerability factors and stress was found; the effects were purely additive. Concludes that depression and anxiety have many risk factors in common, but specific risk factors also were found, especially in subjects developing both depression and anxiety.
The impact of training and support on stress among care staff in nursing and residential homes for the elderly
- Authors:
- PROCTOR Rebekah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 7(1), February 1998, pp.59-70.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Assesses the impact of a training programme on care staff in nursing and residential homes for the elderly on symptoms of stress and work related pressure. Levels of reported psychological distress were shown to increase significantly among the control group sample at 6 months' follow-up. However, there was no significant increase in psychological distress amongst the care staff receiving the training intervention. Concludes that in view of the increasing levels of dependency among residents and the corresponding high levels of reported stress among care workers, further research into the efficacy of training and support for this group is sorely needed.
Caregiving and employment: the impact of workplace characteristics on role strain
- Authors:
- FREDRIKSEN Karen I., SCHARLACH Andrew E.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 28(4), 1997, pp.3-22.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Examines job classification and other workplace characteristics as potential mediators of role strain among university employees with adult care responsibilities. After controlling for background caregiver characteristics and the intensity of care giving demands, it was found that job classification, hours worked, work demands, workplace support, and job flexibility contributed significantly to role strain. Caregivers in staff positions provided higher levels of caregiving assistance and experienced less flexibility, control, and support at the workplace than did academics and administrators. These findings have implications for the development of workplace policies and procedures that are responsive to the unique needs of diverse employee groups.
Burden: a review of measures used among caregivers of individuals with dementia
- Authors:
- VITALIANO Peter P., YOUNG Heather M., RUSSO Joan
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 31(1), February 1991, pp.67-75.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Describes various instruments used to measure caregiver burden.
Dementia and family stress
- Author:
- ADAMS T.
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 20.9.89, 1989, pp.27-29.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Suggests a system of intervention to enable family members to cope with a relative with dementia.
Dealing with daily challenges in dementia (deal-id study): an experience sampling study to assess caregiver functioning in the flow of daily life
- Authors:
- KNIPPENBERG R.J.M. van, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(9), 2017, pp.949-958.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: Accurate assessment of caregiver functioning is of great importance to gain better insight into daily caregiver functioning and to prevent high levels of burden. The experience sampling methodology (ESM) is an innovative approach to assess subjective experiences and behaviour within daily life. In this study, the feasibility of the ESM in spousal caregivers of people with dementia was examined, and the usability of ESM data for clinical and scientific practice was demonstrated. Methods: Thirty-one caregivers collected ESM data for six consecutive days using an electronic ESM device that generated ten random alerts per day. After each alert, short reports of the caregiver's current mood state and context were collected. Feasibility was assessed by examining compliance and subjective experiences with the ESM. Usability was described using group and individual ESM data. Results: Participants on average completed 78.8% of the reports. One participant completed less than 33% of the reports and was excluded from data analyses. Participants considered the ESM device to be a user-friendly device in which they could accurately describe their feelings and experiences. The ESM was not experienced as too burdensome. Zooming in on the ESM data, personalised patterns of mood and contextual factors were revealed. Conclusions: The ESM is a feasible method to assess caregiver functioning. In addition to standard retrospective measurements, it offers new opportunities to gain more insight into the daily lives of people with dementia and their caregivers. It also provides new possibilities to tailor caregiver support interventions to the specific needs of the caregiver. (Edited publisher abstract)
The FACES project: an academic-community partnership to improve end-of-life care for families
- Authors:
- TOWNSEND Aloen L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 50(1/2), 2007, pp.7-20.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article reports on a research partnership between a community-based hospice and a graduate school of social work. In 2003 a research partnership between the Hospice of the Western Reserve and the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences was developed in recognition of the fact that families are an essential source of support for most adults facing death. Furthermore, the entire family unit is the focus of service in hospice care. The purpose of the collaboration was to design and test a tool for assessing caregiver strain and resources in families caring for older adults receiving hospice home care services. Eighteen hospice home care social workers interviewed 162 caregivers for the study and provided their own assessment of the tool's clinical utility. Both strengths and challenges of the collaboration are evaluated and implications are discussed for social work practice and research, particularly academic-community research partnerships.