Impact of Noncaregiving-Related Stressors on Informal Caregiver Outcomes

Abstract

Background Caregivers of persons with dementia are stressed. Stressors not related to care recipients’ needs impact caregiver outcomes, yet are seldom reported. Methods 31 caregivers completed the Most Stressful Event form, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Revised Memory Behavioral Problem Checklist (R-MBPC). Fisher’s exact test and two-sample t-test were used to compare Most Stressful Events between caregivers. ANOVA model tested whether the PHQ-9 and R-MBPC subscales differed by stressor. Results Caregivers reported no stressors 21.5%, 1–2 stressors 25%, and 3 stressors 53% of the time with 318 stressors total. Care recipient needs (30.2%), caregiver needs (26.7%), and decision-making (16.7%) were the most frequently reported stressors. Using a mixed effects model, there were associations between Most Stressful Events and depression (p=0.016), mobility (p=0.024) and caregiver issues (p=0.009) subscales of R-MBPC. Conclusion Results can be used to develop intervention and support strategies for caregivers experiencing non-caregiving related stressors.

Qualitative study on needs and wishes of early-stage dementia caregivers: the paradox between needing and accepting help

“…Objective burden refers to aspects like the amount of time spent on caregiving and the type and number of caregiving tasks that are performed, often predicted by behavioral problems and impairments in daily function and cognition (Wolfs et al, 2012). In addition, caregiver experienced stressors are often not directly related to their self-reported needs (Austrom et al, 2014). In EDC the objective burden might be lower, given the level of impairment and the lower amount of practical and behavioral problems in dementia compared to the later stages of the disease.…”

“…Brodaty et al (2005) also found that, despite a low level of life satisfaction and high levels of subjective burden, EDC as well as caregivers in the later stages felt that they did not need services or help. In addition, caregiver experienced stressors are often not directly related to their self-reported needs (Austrom et al , 2014).…”

Caregiver Experiences Across Three Neurodegenerative Diseases: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Parkinson’s With Dementia

“…Goldsworthy and Knowles (2008) extended the Stress Process theoretical framework for use with PD caregivers. In their model, caregiving experiences of burden, depression and/or life satisfaction are influenced by the interaction of caregiving background, stressors and supports (Austrom et al, 2014). According to this model, caregiver QoL experiences are influenced directly by health and sociodemographic characteristics, diagnosis, symptom presentation, and resulting care demands.…”

Longitudinal trajectories of subjective care stressors: the role of personal, dyadic, and family resources

“…A particularly novel finding was the association between non-care stressors and subjective stressors, specifically, when caregivers reported higher non-care stressors at baseline, they reported higher levels of overload at 12 months. Stressors unrelated to caregiving contribute to subjective stressors (Austrom et al, 2014). Our study suggests that non-care stressors have a longitudinal association with role-overload, but not role captivity.…”