Effects of personality on the transition into caregiving.

Abstract

Recent research has emphasized the critical role of personality in the caregiving situation, but not much is known about how individual differences shape the transitions into and out of caregiving. Based on longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP, N= 14,495), we explored how personality is associated with adopting and maintaining the caregiving role. The results revealed that individuals with less emotional stability were more likely to take over the responsibility to provide care. Moreover, care-related personality change was affected by sex and age. In detail, female care entrants were more burdened than their male counterparts, and younger caregivers seemed to adapt better to the caregiving role than older ones. The findings point to the interplay of personality and sociostructural conditions in the caregiving role over time.

Caregivers’ resilience is independent from the clinical symptoms of dementia

“…We can assume that resilience is an individual characteristic. Individuals with lower levels of resilience may be the most concerned and tend to be more susceptible to stress-eliciting situations 15 . Consequently, they may react more strongly to stressful life events and tend to choose dysfunctional coping strategies or attributional patterns 15 .…”

“…Individuals with lower levels of resilience may be the most concerned and tend to be more susceptible to stress-eliciting situations 15 . Consequently, they may react more strongly to stressful life events and tend to choose dysfunctional coping strategies or attributional patterns 15 . Conversely, individuals who are more resilient may have a positive self-image, self-efficacy and attitude on life 8 .…”

“…The ratings range from preserved (0-4), mildly impaired (5-11), moderately impaired (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17) to absent (over 18) awareness of disease.…”

“…Some personality factors, such as a sense of competence, may moderate the relationship between caring and burden and, consequently, are associated with positive feelings in caregiving 8,15 . In general, greater control over life helps adaptation and improves understanding of the situation, acceptance of changes and the confidence of caregivers in their own strength and inn the affective bonds shared with care recipients 2 .…”

“…Resilience is also considered as a personality characteristic 15 . Some personality factors, such as a sense of competence, may moderate the relationship between caring and burden and, consequently, are associated with positive feelings in caregiving 8,15 .…”