Subjective Appraisal of Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving: the Role of Self-efficacy and Depressive Symptoms in the Experience of Burden

Overview

Journal Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Neurology

Date 2005 Nov 9

PMID 16273992

Citations 19

Authors

Judith G Gonyea

Maureen OConnor

Anastasia Carruth

Patricia A Boyle

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Most studies investigating correlates of Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregiver burden have focused on the role of objective factors as opposed to subjective factors. Although objective variables (e.g., caregiver age, patient dementia severity, functional status) have been shown to be significantly associated with burden, the correlations generally are modest and explain relatively little of the variability in caregiver outcomes. Moreover, many of these objective variables are not modifiable and are of limited use in the development of caregiver interventions. Thus, there continues to be a need to identify powerful and modifiable determinants of caregiver burden. This study examined the role of two subjective factors-self-efficacy and depressive symptoms-as predictors of AD caregiver burden. Based on a sample of 80 AD caregivers, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that self-efficacy and depressive symptoms each had a significant independent effect on the experience of burden even after accounting for objective factors. These findings suggest that caregiver interventions aimed to reduce burden may benefit from the incorporation of specific strategies to increase self-efficacy and decrease depressive symptoms.

Citing Articles

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Gender differences in burden of care and coping strategies among caregivers of schizophrenia patients.

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Community and Provider Evaluation of a Canadian Dementia Support Services Program.

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Perceived stress and depressive symptoms not neuropsychiatric symptoms predict caregiver burden in Alzheimer's disease: a cross-sectional study.

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