TY - JOUR
T1 - The Role of Coping Strategies in Psychological Outcomes for Frontotemporal Dementia Caregivers
AU - Roche, Lauren
AU - Croot, Karen
AU - Maccann, Carolyn
AU - Cramer, Barbara
AU - Diehl-Schmid, Janine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2015.
PY - 2015/9/24
Y1 - 2015/9/24
N2 - Background: Caregiving for a person with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is related to poor caregiver outcomes. Coping strategies adopted by caregivers are known to influence psychological outcomes in other dementia caregiver populations, however, their influence on psychological outcomes in FTD caregivers is poorly understood at present. Methods: Questionnaire data for 94 German primary caregivers (mean [M] 59.11 years, 68 females) of FTD care-recipients living in the community (M 63.94, 30 females) were investigated. Standardized measures completed by the caregiver included the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Quality of Life-Alzheimers Disease (QoL-AD), and the Brief Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE). Care-recipients nursing care level was collected as a measure of the intensity of their care needs. Results: Mediation analyses showed that the effect of the intensity of care-recipients care needs on caregiver well-being depended on caregivers experience of strain. High levels of caregiver strain did not predict depression (-0.22, 95% confidence interval CI: [0.16 to 2.04]) but predicted reduced QoL (-0.44, CI: [-1.15 to -.16]). Moreover, caregivers experience of strain was exacerbated by their use of dysfunctional coping (β =.21; p =.04), care-recipients intensity of care needs (β =.25; p =.01), and fewer financial resources (β =.23; p =.02). In turn, caregivers use of dysfunctional coping as a response to their strain increased the levels of depression (0.46, CI: [0.19-0.82]). By contrast, use of problem-focused coping strategies increased caregivers QoL (0.10, CI: [0.00 to 0.31]). Significance: This study identifies variables amenable to clinical interventions that can improve caregivers well-being: specifically, caregiver strain and coping strategies. For a disease without cure yet increasing prevalence and cost, ameliorating the caregiver experience through targeted interventions is essential.
AB - Background: Caregiving for a person with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is related to poor caregiver outcomes. Coping strategies adopted by caregivers are known to influence psychological outcomes in other dementia caregiver populations, however, their influence on psychological outcomes in FTD caregivers is poorly understood at present. Methods: Questionnaire data for 94 German primary caregivers (mean [M] 59.11 years, 68 females) of FTD care-recipients living in the community (M 63.94, 30 females) were investigated. Standardized measures completed by the caregiver included the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Quality of Life-Alzheimers Disease (QoL-AD), and the Brief Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE). Care-recipients nursing care level was collected as a measure of the intensity of their care needs. Results: Mediation analyses showed that the effect of the intensity of care-recipients care needs on caregiver well-being depended on caregivers experience of strain. High levels of caregiver strain did not predict depression (-0.22, 95% confidence interval CI: [0.16 to 2.04]) but predicted reduced QoL (-0.44, CI: [-1.15 to -.16]). Moreover, caregivers experience of strain was exacerbated by their use of dysfunctional coping (β =.21; p =.04), care-recipients intensity of care needs (β =.25; p =.01), and fewer financial resources (β =.23; p =.02). In turn, caregivers use of dysfunctional coping as a response to their strain increased the levels of depression (0.46, CI: [0.19-0.82]). By contrast, use of problem-focused coping strategies increased caregivers QoL (0.10, CI: [0.00 to 0.31]). Significance: This study identifies variables amenable to clinical interventions that can improve caregivers well-being: specifically, caregiver strain and coping strategies. For a disease without cure yet increasing prevalence and cost, ameliorating the caregiver experience through targeted interventions is essential.
KW - caregiver
KW - coping
KW - depression
KW - frontotemporal dementia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84940198956&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0891988715588830
DO - 10.1177/0891988715588830
M3 - Article
C2 - 26072312
AN - SCOPUS:84940198956
SN - 0891-9887
VL - 28
SP - 218
EP - 228
JO - Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
JF - Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
IS - 3
ER -
