Positive aspects of caregiving as a moderator of treatment outcome over 12 months.

Abstract

The authors examined the influence of positive aspects of caregiving (PAC) as a moderator of treatment outcome across 12 months in 1 of the original sites of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health I project. They used multilevel random coefficients regression analysis to predict time-varying PAC, depression, behavioral bother, and daily care burden in Alzheimer's caregivers (N = 243; mean age = 60.89, SD = 14.19). They found that time-varying PAC was predicted by time-varying daily care burden. They also found significant effects of time-varying PAC for depression, behavioral bother, and daily care burden. Notably, a PAC x Phase x Treatment effect was found for daily care burden, such that individuals who endorsed less PAC benefited most from the intervention across 12 months. The tendency to positively appraise the caregiving experience (i.e., PAC) in response to chronic stressors such as Alzheimer's caregiving may affect individuals' responsiveness to, and benefit from, interventions, whereas only daily care burden affected the tendency to find enjoyment in caregiving across 12 months. Future intervention research should assess individual PAC in order to better tailor interventions to caregiving needs.

Social Motivation: Costs and Benefits of Selfishness and Otherishness

“…Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of caregiving is related to poor mental health (Schwartz et al 2003). When caregivers perceive less burden, they experience positive aspects of caregiving and better well-being (Hilgeman et al 2007). …”

Family Caregiving in Dementia: The Asian Perspective of a Global Problem

“…Studies have found protective factors that could mediate or moderate caregiver burden [58,59,60,61]. A systematic review found finding meaning in caregiving and caregiver motivation to provide care has a positive impact on caregiver well-being [58].…”

“…The study suggested that providing support that would enhance the quality of life of the persons with dementia could indirectly help to alleviate the burden felt by family members caring for them [60]. Future studies need to explore the positive aspects of caregiving, such as the caregiver gain, protective factors that could mediate or moderate caregiver burden, and ways to promote caregivers’ resilience [61]. …”

Benefits of psychodynamic group therapy on depression, burden and quality of life of family caregivers to Alzheimer’s disease patients

“…The preservation of physical and mental health of family caregivers to dementia patients must be understood as an asset to the efficient and ethical fulfillment of this important role [7][8][9] . There is an estimate of 46% of increase in the demand for healthcare services for AD patient caregivers 10 . In addition, up to 60% of family caregivers to AD patients may develop physical and/or psychological symptoms, including hypertension, digestive problems, sleep disorders, respiratory diseases, immunologic system deficiency, depression, anxiety and insomnia 7,11 .…”