Emotional Function, Negative Thoughts about the Pandemic, and Adaptability Skills among Dementia Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: It can be easily inferred that dementia caregivers were severely affected by the general home confinement, or ‘lockdown’, due to their caregiving roles. Aim: The aim of the current study is to investigate how the quarantine measures applied during the COVID-19 pandemic affected the emotional function (specifically the emotional management, emotional experience, and stress symptoms) and the negative thoughts, as well as the adaptability skills, of Greek dementia caregivers. Materials andMethods: In total, 303 participants (138 in the non-caregiving adults-control group; 165 in the dementia caregivers-experimental group) were recruited from the day centers of the Greek Association of Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders (GAADRD) from June 2020 to January 2021 in Thessaloniki, Greece. The caregiving population was split into group 1 (those who participated in support groups) and group 2 (those who did not participate in support groups). A self-reported questionnaire was created for research purposes and was digitally administered to participants via Google forms. Results: During the quarantine period, dementia caregivers had more difficulties in emotional management, especially in regards to stress symptoms, which was measured via the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), in comparison to the control group. In regards to the caregiving populations, caregivers from group 1 were more able to manage their emotions according to their self-reports, but had increased agony and loneliness. Moreover, statistical significance was found between emotional management, negative feelings, and stress symptoms in those from group 2 who self-reported that the PwD deteriorated. This evidence was not found in group 1. Finally, there were no differences in the means of negative thoughts about the pandemic, as well as in the adaptation skills, both in dementia caregivers and in the control group, according to their self-reports. Discussion: It seems that different emotional aspects were affected in the dementia caregivers’ population, and, therefore, future psychotherapeutic interventions should focus on those most severely affected by the restrictive measures imposed.

Brain Computer Interface System, Performance, Challenges and Applications

“…Nikolaidou et al [17] originally showed that the brain's adaptability is anchored in the time-varying dynamics of synapses within large neural networks. Neurorehabilitation relies heavily on neuroplasticity because of its role in facilitating cognitive and perceptual development.…”

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Self-Perceived Change of Caregivers’ Burden in Providing Care for People With Dementia

“…Two recent studies demonstrated that for PwD, COVID-19 prevention policies worsened their cognitive function (53.4%–55.1%), neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) (48.3%–51.9%), increased the incidence of new-onset NPS (25.9%), and caused functional decline (34.5%) (Borelli et al, 2021; Rainero et al, 2021). Previous research found that the incidence of stress in CGs increased from 9% to 22% of CGs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Nikolaidou et al, 2022). However, few global and local studies have focused on the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health, well-being, and health-related concerns of CGs (Cohen et al, 2020; Losada et al, 2022; Park, 2020).…”