Abstract
Objectives. Previous research has consistently reported elevated rates of depressive symptoms in dementia caregivers, but mostly with convenience samples. This study examined rates and correlates of depression at the baseline visit of a population sample of dementia caregivers (N = 256). Method. Using a modified version of Williams (Williams, I. C. [2005]. Emotional health of black and white dementia caregivers: A contextual examination. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60, P287-P295) ecological contextual model, we examined 5 contexts that have contributed to dementia caregiver depression. A series of linear regressions were performed to determine correlates of depression. Results. Rates of depressive symptoms were lower than those reported in most convenience studies. We found fewer depressive symptoms in caregivers with higher levels of education and larger social support networks, fewer health problems, greater likelihood of using problem-focused coping, and less likelihood of wishful thinking and with fewer behavioral disturbances in the persons with dementia. Discussion. These results suggest that depression may be less prevalent in populations of dementia caregivers than in clinic-based samples, but that the correlates of depression are similar for both population and convenience samples. Interventions targeting individuals with small support networks, emotion-focused coping styles, poorer health, low quality of life, and those caring for persons with higher numbers of behavioral problems need development and testing.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 921-926 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2013 |
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Keywords
- Caregiving
- Dementia
- Depression
- Population study
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Gerontology
- Clinical Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Predictors of dementia caregiver depressive symptoms in a population : The cache county dementia progression study. / Piercy, Kathleen W.; Fauth, Elizabeth B.; Norton, Maria C.; Pfister, Roxane; Corcoran, Chris D.; Rabins, Peter V; Lyketsos, Constantine G; Tschanz, JoAnn T.
In: Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol. 68, No. 6, 11.2013, p. 921-926.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of dementia caregiver depressive symptoms in a population
T2 - The cache county dementia progression study
AU - Piercy, Kathleen W.
AU - Fauth, Elizabeth B.
AU - Norton, Maria C.
AU - Pfister, Roxane
AU - Corcoran, Chris D.
AU - Rabins, Peter V
AU - Lyketsos, Constantine G
AU - Tschanz, JoAnn T.
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - Objectives. Previous research has consistently reported elevated rates of depressive symptoms in dementia caregivers, but mostly with convenience samples. This study examined rates and correlates of depression at the baseline visit of a population sample of dementia caregivers (N = 256). Method. Using a modified version of Williams (Williams, I. C. [2005]. Emotional health of black and white dementia caregivers: A contextual examination. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60, P287-P295) ecological contextual model, we examined 5 contexts that have contributed to dementia caregiver depression. A series of linear regressions were performed to determine correlates of depression. Results. Rates of depressive symptoms were lower than those reported in most convenience studies. We found fewer depressive symptoms in caregivers with higher levels of education and larger social support networks, fewer health problems, greater likelihood of using problem-focused coping, and less likelihood of wishful thinking and with fewer behavioral disturbances in the persons with dementia. Discussion. These results suggest that depression may be less prevalent in populations of dementia caregivers than in clinic-based samples, but that the correlates of depression are similar for both population and convenience samples. Interventions targeting individuals with small support networks, emotion-focused coping styles, poorer health, low quality of life, and those caring for persons with higher numbers of behavioral problems need development and testing.
AB - Objectives. Previous research has consistently reported elevated rates of depressive symptoms in dementia caregivers, but mostly with convenience samples. This study examined rates and correlates of depression at the baseline visit of a population sample of dementia caregivers (N = 256). Method. Using a modified version of Williams (Williams, I. C. [2005]. Emotional health of black and white dementia caregivers: A contextual examination. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60, P287-P295) ecological contextual model, we examined 5 contexts that have contributed to dementia caregiver depression. A series of linear regressions were performed to determine correlates of depression. Results. Rates of depressive symptoms were lower than those reported in most convenience studies. We found fewer depressive symptoms in caregivers with higher levels of education and larger social support networks, fewer health problems, greater likelihood of using problem-focused coping, and less likelihood of wishful thinking and with fewer behavioral disturbances in the persons with dementia. Discussion. These results suggest that depression may be less prevalent in populations of dementia caregivers than in clinic-based samples, but that the correlates of depression are similar for both population and convenience samples. Interventions targeting individuals with small support networks, emotion-focused coping styles, poorer health, low quality of life, and those caring for persons with higher numbers of behavioral problems need development and testing.
KW - Caregiving
KW - Dementia
KW - Depression
KW - Population study
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84888598826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84888598826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/geronb/gbs116
DO - 10.1093/geronb/gbs116
M3 - Article
C2 - 23241850
AN - SCOPUS:84888598826
VL - 68
SP - 921
EP - 926
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
SN - 1079-5014
IS - 6
ER -