Hostname: page-component-66644f4456-mv4w6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-12T16:53:54.913Z Has data issue: true hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors Affecting the Emotional Wellbeing of the Caregivers of Dementia Sufferers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Robin G. Morris ,
Lorna W. Morris  and
Peter G. Britton
Robin G. Morris*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry; Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 4LP
Lorna W. Morris
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry; Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 4LP
Peter G. Britton
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry; Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 4LP
*
∗Correspondence
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Recent research on the factors that mediate the emotional wellbeing of the caregivers of dementia sufferers is reviewed. The roles of such factors as the caregiver's attributional style and coping strategies, the caregiver's relationship with the dementia sufferer, and levels of formal and informal support are discussed with reference to identifying those caregivers who are particularly vulnerable to emotional disorder or strain.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 153 , Issue 2 , August 1988 , pp. 147 - 156
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abramson, L. Y., Seligman, M. E. P. & Teasdale, J. (1978) Learned helplessness in humans: critique and reformulation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 49–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Argyle, N., Jestice, S. & Brook, P. (1985) Psychogeriatric patients: their supporter's problems. Age and Ageing, 14, 355–360.Google Scholar
Barnes, R. F., Raskind, M. A., Scott, M. & Murphy, C. (1981) Problems of families caring for Alzheimer patients: the use of a support group. Journal of the American Geriatrics Association, 29, 80–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benjamin, S., Decalmer, P. & Haran, D. (1982) Community screening for mental illness: a validity study of the General Health Questionnaire. British Journal of Psychiatry, 140, 174–180.Google Scholar
Bergmann, K. & Jacoby, R. (1983) The limitation and possibilities of community care for the elderly demented. In Elderly People in the Community: Their Service Needs. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Bergmann, K., Foster, E. M., Justice, A. W. & Mathews, V. (1978) Management of the demented elderly patient in the community. British Journal of Psychiatry, 132, 441–449.Google Scholar
Berkman, L. F. (1983) The assessment of social networks and social support in the elderly. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 31, 743–749.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1980) Attachment and loss, vol. 3. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Bradburn, N. M. (1969) The Structure of Psychological Wellbeing. Chicago: Aldine.Google Scholar
Brewin, C. R. (1984) Attributions for industrial accidents: their relationship to rehabilitation outcome. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2, 156–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brody, I. M. (1981) “Women in the middle” and family help to older people. Gerontologist, 21, 471–480.Google Scholar
Brown, G. W., Bifulco, A. & Harris, T. O. (1987) Life events, vulnerability and the onset of depression: some refinements. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 30–42.Google Scholar
Cantor, M. H. (1983) Strain among caregivers: a study of experience in the United States. Gerontologist, 23, 597–604.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Caserta, M. S., Lund, D. A., Wright, S. D. & Redburn, D. E. (1987) Caregivers of dementia patients: the utilization of community services. Gerontologist, 27, 209–214.Google Scholar
Challis, D. & Davies, B. (1986) Case Management in Community Care: an Evaluated Experiment in the Home Care of the Elderly. Aldershot: Gower.Google Scholar
Coppel, D. B., Burton, C., Becker, J. & Fiore, J. (1985) Relationships of cognitions associated with coping reactions to depression in spousal caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9, 253–266.Google Scholar
Cutrona, C. E. (1983) Causal attributions and perinatal depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92, 161–172.Google Scholar
Davies, B. & Challis, D. (1986) Matching Resources to Needs in Community Care: an Evaluated Demonstration of a Long-term Model. Aldershot: Gower.Google Scholar
Eagles, J. M., Beattie, J. A. G., Blackwood, G. W., Restall, D. B. & Ashcroft, G. W. (1987a) The mental health of elderly couples – I: The effects of the cognitively impaired spouse. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 299–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eagles, J. M., Craig, A., Rawlinson, F., Restall, D. B., Beattie, J. A. G. & Besson, J. A. O. (1987b) The psychological well-being of supporters of the demented elderly. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 293–298.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Endicott, J., Cohen, J., Nee, J., Fleiss, J. & Sarantakos, S. (1981) Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Archives of General Psychiatry, 38, 98–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fatheringham, J., Skelton, M. & Hoddinott, B. (1972) The effects on the families of the presence of a mentally retarded child. Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 17, 283–289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fitting, M., Rabins, P., Lucas, J. M. & Eastham, J. (1986) Caregivers for dementia patients: a comparison of husbands and wives. Gerontologist, 26, 248–252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
George, L. K. & Gwyther, L. P. (1986) Caregiver well-being: a multidimensional examination of family caregivers of demented adults. Gerontologist, 26, 253–259.Google Scholar
Gilhooly, M. L. M. (1984a) The impact of caregiving on caregivers: factors associated with the psychological well-being of people supporting a dementing relative in the community. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 57, 35–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gilhooly, M. L. M. (1984b) The social origins of senile dementia. In Psychological Approaches to the Care of the Elderly (eds Hanley, I. & Hodge, J.). London: Croom Helm.Google Scholar
Gilhooly, M. L. M. (1986) Senile dementia: factors associated with caregiver's preference for institutional care. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 59, 165–171.Google Scholar
Gilleard, C. J. (1984) Living with Dementia: Community Care of the Elderly Mentally Infirm. London: Croom Helm.Google Scholar
Gilleard, C. J. (1987) Influence of emotional distress among supporters on the outcome of psychogeriatric day care. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 219–223.Google Scholar
Gilleard, C. J., Boyd, W. D. & Watt, G. (1982) Problems in caring for the elderly mentally infirm at home. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 1, 151–158.Google Scholar
Gilleard, C. J., Belford, H., Gilleard, E., Whittick, J. E. & Gledhill, K. (1984) Emotional distress among the supporters of the elderly mentally infirm. British Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 172–177.Google Scholar
Glosser, G. & Wexler, D. (1985) Participants' evaluation of educational/support groups for families of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Gerontologist, 25, 232–236.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goldberg, D. P. (1978) Manual for the General Health Questionnaire. Windsor: NFER–Nelson.Google Scholar
Grad, J. & Sainsbury, P. (1965) An evaluation of the effects of caring for the aged at home. In Psychiatric Disorders in the Aged. WPA symposium. Manchester: Geigy.Google Scholar
Greene, J. G., Smith, R., Gardiner, M. & Timbury, G. C. (1982) Measuring behavioural disturbance of elderly demented patients in the community and its effects on relatives: a factor analytic study. Age and Ageing, 11, 121–126.Google Scholar
Greene, J. G., & Timbury, G. C. (1979) A geriatric psychiatry day hospital service: a five year review. Age and Ageing, 8, 49–53.Google Scholar
Hammen, C. L. & deMayo, R. (1982) Cognitive correlates of teacher stress and depressive symptoms: implications for attributional models of depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 91, 96–101.Google Scholar
Hirschfield, M. J. (1978) Families Living with Senile Brain Disease. Doctor of Nursing Science dissertation, University of California, San Francisco.Google Scholar
Hirschfield, M. J. (1981) Families living and coping with the cognitively impaired. In Recent Advances in Nursing – Vol. 2: Care of the Ageing (ed. Archer Copp, L.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.Google Scholar
Horowitz, A. (1985) Sons and daughters as caregivers to older parents: differences in role performance and consequences. The Gerontologist, 25, 612–617.Google Scholar
Horowitz, A. & Shindelman, L. W. (1983) Reciprocity and affection: past influences on current caregiving. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 5, 5–20.Google Scholar
Isaacs, B. (1971) Geriatric patients: do their families care? British Medical Journal, 4, 282–285.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Isaacs, B., Livingstone, M. & Neville, Y. (1972) Survival of the Unfittest: a Study of Geriatric Patients in the East End of Glasgow. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Johnson, C. L. (1983) Dyadic family relations and social support. Gerontologist, 23, 377–383.Google Scholar
Jones, I. G. & Munbodh, R. (1982) An evaluation of a day hospital for the demented elderly. Health Bulletin (Edinburgh), 40, 10–15.Google Scholar
Kahan, J., Kemp, B., Staples, F. R. & Brummel-Smith, K. (1985) Decreasing the burden in families caring for a relative with a dementing illness: a controlled study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Association, 33, 664–670.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kahn, R. L. & Tobin, S. S. (1981) Community treatment for aged persons with altered brain function. In Clinical Aspects of Alzheimer's Disease and Senile Dementia (eds Miller, E. & Cohen, G. D.). New York: Raven Press.Google Scholar
Levin, E., Sinclair, I. & Gorbach, P. (1986) The Supporters of Confused Elderly Persons at Home. London: National Institute of Social Work.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P. M., Steinmetz, J. L., Larson, D. W. & Franklin, J. (1981) Depression-related cognitions: antecedents or consequences? Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 90, 213–219.Google Scholar
MacDonald, A. J. D., Mann, A. H., Jenkins, R., Godlove, C. & Rodwell, G. (1982) An attempt to determine the impact of four types of care upon the elderly. Psychological Medicine, 12, 193–200.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mace, N. L. & Rabins, P. V. (1981) The 36-Hour Day. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.Google Scholar
Machin, E. (1980) A Survey of the Behaviour of the Elderly and their Supporters at Home. MSc thesis, University of Birmingham.Google Scholar
Morris, L. W. (1986) The Psychological Factors Affecting Emotional Wellbeing of the Spouse Caregivers of Dementia Sufferers. MSc thesis, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.Google Scholar
Morris, L. W., Morris, R. G. & Britton, P. G. (1988) The relationship between marital intimacy, perceived strain and depression in spouse caregivers of dementia sufferers. British Journal of Medical Psychology (in press).Google Scholar
Newbigging, K. (1981) ‘A Ripe Old Age’: an Investigation of Relatives of Elderly Dependants with Dementia. Inquiry report, British Psychological Society Diploma in Clinical Psychology.Google Scholar
Niederehe, G. & Fruge, E. (1984) Dementia and family dynamics: clinical research issues. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17, 21–56.Google Scholar
Pagel, M. D., Becker, J. & Coppel, D. B. (1985) Loss of control, self-blame and depression: an investigation of spouse caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 169–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parkes, C. M. (1972) Bereavement: Studies of Grief in Adult Life. London: Tavistock Publications.Google Scholar
Pfeiffer, E. (1979) A short psychiatric evaluation schedule: a new 15-item monotonic scale indicative of functional psychiatric disorder. In Brain Function in Old Age (proceedings of Bayer symposium VII). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Poulshock, S. W. & Deimling, G. T. (1984) Families caring for elders in residence: issues in the measurement of burden. Journal of Gerontology, 39, 230–239.Google Scholar
Powell, L. S. & Courtice, K. (1983) Alzheimer's Disease: a Guide for Families. Don Mills, Ontario: Addison-Wesley.Google Scholar
Rabins, P. V., Mace, H. L. & Lucas, M. J. (1982) The impact of dementia on the family. Journal of the American Medical Association, 248, 333–335.Google Scholar
Sainsbury, P. & Grad de Alarcon, J. (1970) The psychiatrist and the geriatric patient: the effects of community care on the family of the geriatric patient. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 4, 23–41.Google Scholar
Sanford, J. R. A. (1975) Tolerance of debility in elderly dependants by supporters at home: its significance for hospital practice. British Medical Journal, iii, 471–475.Google Scholar
Steuer, J. & Clark, E. (1982) Family support groups within a research project on dementia. Clinical Gerontologist, 1, 87–95.Google Scholar
Tarnopolsky, A., Hand, D. J., McLean, E. K., Roberts, N. & Wiggins, R. D. (1979) Validity and uses of a screening questionnaire (GHQ) in the community. British Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 508–515.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tobin, S. & Kulys, R. (1981) The family in the institutionalization of the elderly. Journal of Social Issues, 37, 145–157.Google Scholar
Waring, E. M., Tillman, M. P., Frelick, L., Russell, L. & Weisz, G. (1980) Concepts of intimacy in the general population. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 168, 471–474.Google Scholar
Wortman, C. B. & Dintzer, L. (1978) Is an attributional analysis of the learned helplessness phenomenon viable? A critique of the Abramson–Seligman–Teasdale reformulation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 75–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zarit, J. M., Gatz, M. & Zarit, S. H. (1981) Family relationships and burden in long-term care. Paper presented at 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of Gerontological Society of America, Toronto, Canada. The Gerontologist, 21, 286.Google Scholar
Zarit, S. H. & Zarit, J. M. (1982) Families under stress: interventions for caregivers of senile dementia patients. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 19, 461–471.Google Scholar
Zarit, S. H., Reever, K. E. & Bach-Peterson, J. (1980) Relatives of the impaired elderly: correlates of feeling of burden. Gerontologist, 20, 649–655.Google Scholar
Zarit, S. H., Todd, P. A. & Zarit, J. M. (1986) Subjective burden of husbands and wives as caregivers: a longitudinal study. Gerontologist, 26, 260–266.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.