Unique Contribution of Family Functioning in Caregivers of Patients with Mild to Moderate Dementia
Open Access
- 1 February 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by S. Karger AG in Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
- Vol. 21 (3), 170-174
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000090699
Abstract
The relationship between family functioning and dementia caregiving is complex. The present study examined the interrelationships between family functioning, caregiver burden, and patient characteristics. Participants were 72 live-in, family caregivers of patients with mild (n = 47) or moderate dementia (n = 25). Caregivers completed measures of burden, family functioning, depression, and anxiety. Ratings of patients’ memory/behavior problems and patients’ activities of daily living were also collected. Results indicated that higher levels of caregiver burden were significantly associated with increased caregiver depression and anxiety, greater frequency of memory and behavior problems in the dementia patient, worse activities of daily living, and poorer family functioning. Even after controlling for caregiver depression, caregiver anxiety, and frequency of memory/behavior problems in dementia patients, poorer family functioning continued to be associated with higher levels of caregiver burden. Caregivers with high levels of burden reported greater family dysfunction in communication and roles, regardless of their relationship to the patient (i.e., spouse or child). These findings suggest that including a family systems component in caregiver interventions may be beneficial in reducing burden in these very distressed individuals.Keywords
This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit:
- A New Direction for Intervention with Depressed Caregivers to Alzheimer's PatientsFamily Relations, 1999
- Caregiver expressed emotion and depression in Alzheimer's diseaseAging & Mental Health, 1997
- The effects of family context on adult offspring of patients with Alzheimer's disease: A longitudinal study.Journal of Family Psychology, 1996
- The California Family Health Project: III. Family Emotion Management and Adult HealthFamily Process, 1992
- Assessment of behavioral problems in dementia: The Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist.Psychology and Aging, 1992
- Impact of Family Conflict on Adult Child CaregiversThe Gerontologist, 1991
- A psychometric study of the McMaster Family Assessment Device in psychiatric, medical, and nonclinical samples.Journal of Family Psychology, 1990
- A New Clinical Scale for the Staging of DementiaThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 1982
- Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary reportJournal of Psychiatric Research, 1982
- Assessment of Older People: Self-Maintaining and Instrumental Activities of Daily LivingThe Gerontologist, 1969