Associations Between Secondary Caregivers’ Supportive Behavior and Psychological Distress of Primary Spousal Caregivers of Cognitively Intact and Impaired Elders

Lou, VW; Kwan, Chi Wai; Chong, Alice M. L.; Chi, Iris

doi:10.1093/geront/gnt156

Cited by 22 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…younger siblings, the financial resources to pay for a domestic helper) (Penrod et al, 1995), and the failure to fulfil caring responsibilities may lead the adult-child caregivers to experience unfavourable appraisals involving shame and guilt (Hsiao et al, 2006, Ward-Griffin et al, 2007. Overall, our study found evidence of the negative impact of spousal secondary caregivers on the caregiver burden of adult-child primary caregivers of patients with dementia, which enriches our understanding of stress and support relationships in the context of family-based dementia care (Lou et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

The relationship between comorbidities in dementia patients and burden on adult–child primary caregivers: Does having a secondary caregiver matter?

Liu

Fang

Chan

et al. 2019

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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Primary family caregivers of patients with dementia often experience high caregiver burden and significant decline in a range of health outcomes. The current study examined the relationship between medical comorbidities of inpatients with dementia and caregiver burden in adult–child primary caregivers, and the buffering effect of having a secondary caregiver on the relationship between patients’ comorbidities and caregiver burden. The study is a secondary analysis of data from a cross‐sectional observational study design. The sample comprised 477 dyads of inpatients with dementia and adult–child primary caregivers attending the neurological department of two grade A hospitals. All the inpatients were assessed with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). All the adult–child primary caregivers were assessed with the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and completed the questionnaires on socio‐demographic data, caring hours, presence of secondary caregiver, and the level of impairment of the patient. Higher burden was associated with higher scores on the CCI and having a spouse of the patient as the secondary caregiver. A significant interaction occurred between the CCI and caregiver burden when having a spouse as the secondary caregiver, indicating the negative effect of the CCI on caregiver burden was greater when the spouse of the patient served as the secondary caregiver. In summary, the negative impact of patients’ comorbidities on caregiver burden in adult–child primary caregivers was heightened when the secondary caregiver role was undertaken by the spouse of the patient with dementia. These results may inform programmes targeted to improve care arrangements for people with dementia and their caregivers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

The relationship between comorbidities in dementia patients and burden on adult–child primary caregivers: Does having a secondary caregiver matter?

Liu

Fang

Chan

et al. 2019

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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“…In contrast, studies into the use of informal social support within the context of caregivers' own social network are underdeveloped. This is an important research venue because informal caregivers must provide longer care in the community (Fortinsky and Downs, 2014) and increasingly rely on the assistance and support from their social network (Lou et al, 2013).…”

Section: And Maymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Living well in spite of dementia is not only important for the person with dementia (PwD), but also for their caregivers who face physical, emotional, and economical challenges during different phases of the disease (Schulz and Martire, 2004). Maintaining social engagement next to the caregiver role enhances feelings of wellbeing (Au et al, 2009;Lou et al, 2013)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A mismatch between supply and demand of social support in dementia care: a qualitative study on the perspectives of spousal caregivers and their social network members

Dam

Boots

Boxtel

et al. 2017

Int. Psychogeriatr.

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Background:Access to social support contributes to feelings of independence and better social health. This qualitative study aims to investigate multi-informant perspectives on informal social support in dementia care networks.Methods:Ten spousal caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) completed an ecogram, a social network card and a semi-structured interview. The ecogram aimed to trigger subjective experiences regarding social support. Subsequently, 17 network members were interviewed. The qualitative analyses identified codes, categories, and themes.Results:Sixth themes emerged: (1) barriers to ask for support; (2) facilitators to ask for support; (3) barriers to offer support; (4) facilitators to offer support; (5) a mismatch between supply and demand of social support; and (6) openness in communication to repair the imbalance.Discussion:Integrating social network perspectives resulted in a novel model identifying a mismatch between the supply and demand of social support, strengthened by a cognitive bias: caregivers reported to think for other social network members and vice versa. Openness in communication in formal and informal care systems might repair this mismatch.

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“…When more than one caregiver is engaged in caregiving, the type of care provided by different caregivers affects interactions between care needs and caregiver well-being. For example, a study conducted in Hong Kong found that instrumental and emotional support provided by a secondary caregiver to a care recipient with negative mood symptoms had a negative association with the primary caregiver's well-being (Lou, Kwan, Chong, & Chi, 2015). Hence, the impact of the type of care on caregiver well-being deserves further study.…”

Section: Factors Associated With Distress Of Offspring Caregiversmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can domestic helpers moderate distress of offspring caregivers of cognitively impaired older adults?

Chong

Kwan

Lou

et al. 2016

Aging & Mental Health

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These findings might suggest: a) the positive effects of audience on psychological responses to stress; b) caregiving is usually less stressful for informal caregivers not residing with care recipients. Conversely, having a domestic helper could add to caregiving distress if offspring caregivers live with their parents, most likely because offspring may witness difficulties that domestic helpers face in providing dementia care.

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Associations Between Secondary Caregivers’ Supportive Behavior and Psychological Distress of Primary Spousal Caregivers of Cognitively Intact and Impaired Elders

Cited by 22 publications

References 44 publications

The relationship between comorbidities in dementia patients and burden on adult–child primary caregivers: Does having a secondary caregiver matter?

The relationship between comorbidities in dementia patients and burden on adult–child primary caregivers: Does having a secondary caregiver matter?

A mismatch between supply and demand of social support in dementia care: a qualitative study on the perspectives of spousal caregivers and their social network members

Can domestic helpers moderate distress of offspring caregivers of cognitively impaired older adults?

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