Effects of Positive Thinking on Dementia Caregivers’ Burden and Care-Recipients’ Behavioral Problems

Abstract

Most dementia care is provided at home by family members. This caregiving places an additional burden on the family members, which can negatively impact their physical and psychological well-being. The caregivers’ burden can also contribute to behavioral problems in the care-recipients. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating/moderating effects of positive thinking (PT) on the relationship between caregivers’ burden (embarrassment/anger, patient’s dependency, and self-criticism) and their care-recipients’ behavioral problems (memory, depression, and disruption) in a sample of 100 dementia caregivers. Results indicated that caregivers’ embarrassment, self-criticism, and perception of patient dependency predicts depression in care-recipients, and these relationships are moderated by PT. Results also indicated that as PT increases, the relationship between embarrassment and disruption goes down as well as does the relationship between self-criticism and depression. The study provided direction for the development of a PT training intervention to help caregivers to combat their burden.

Saúde Pública: Epidemiologia, Clínica E Estratégias De Tratamento

“…O PT é um processo cognitivo que ajuda o indivíduo a desenvolver ideias otimistas e tomar decisões sensatas servindo como fator de proteção. Ainda sobre o desfecho Pensamento Positivo, outra pesquisa indica que períodos de descanso e fatores como cultura, condições e arranjos de vida são fundamentais para a saúde do cuidador (BEKHET, 2020;SOUZA, 2021).…”

Designing and psychometric properties of coping strategies scale for family caregivers of hemodialysis patients

“…Bekhet et al studied the effects of positive thinking on burnout of dementia caregivers and behavioral problems of care-recipients. They showed that as positive thinking increased, the level of embarrassment and disruption went down in patents; self-criticism and depression decreased in caregivers as well (37).…”

Theoretical Substruction of Resilience Theory: Dementia Caregivers’ Burden and Their Care Recipients’ Behavior

“…Four variables were derived from the resilience theory: caregivers’ perceived burden, positive thinking skills, resourcefulness skills, and behavioral problems (figure, table). Bekhet and colleagues have investigated these variables in two studies: the first included 80 caregivers of persons with dementia and the second included 100 dementia caregivers (Bekhet, 2013; Bekhet & Garnier-Villarreal, 2019). Caregivers’ burden is a multidimensional response to the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and financial stressors associated with caregiving.…”

“…Resourcefulness is defined as a cognitive behavioral repertoire of personal and social skills that help in adjustment (Zauszniewski et al, 2006). Finally, the behavioral problems of persons with dementia constitute a range of psychological reactions and psychiatric symptoms and represent an important clinical dimension of dementia (Bekhet & Garnier-Villarreal, 2019).…”