Examination of Factors Associated With Informal Caregivers’ Reactions to Different Problem Behaviors Among Persons With Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Problem behaviors among persons with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) have a significant impact on caregivers. However, caregivers’ subjective reaction to the problem behaviors better predicts the caregiving outcomes than the objective frequency of problem behaviors. With a sample recruited from community agencies serving Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) caregivers (n = 108), this study examined the effect of various factors on the caregivers ’reaction to different types of problem behaviors, including demographics, caregivers’ knowledge about the AD, and resilience level, controlling for the frequency of problem behaviors and other caregiving context factors. Caregivers’ reaction to problem behaviors was measured by the Revised Memory and Behavior Problem Checklist. Findings indicated that African American caregivers had a lower level of reactions to disruptive ( B = −3.956; p < .01) and depressive behaviors ( B = −2.443; p < .05) than white caregivers, but not for memory-loss problems. Age, being spousal caregivers, and knowledge of AD only affected reactions to memory-loss problems but not for other types of behaviors. No effects were observed for personal resilience. Intervention should be tailored to the varied needs of family caregivers to deal with problem behaviors among people with AD to delay institutionalization. More training/resources at the skill level over the information-only caregiver intervention should be promoted.