| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|---|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
a Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
b School of Social Work, Syracuse University, NY.
c Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami
d Psychology Department, Towson University, MD
Correspondence: Karen Hooker, PhD, Oregon State University, Human Development and Family Sciences, 323-A Milam Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-5102. E-mail: hookerk{at}orst.edu.
Purpose of study: Mental health outcomes are widely reported among spouse caregivers, with wives generally faring worse than husbands. We hypothesized that gender differences would not be as strong in a cognitively intact group because caring for cognitively intact spouses may involve less severe reciprocity losses. We also examined gender differences in coping strategies within each group. Design and method: 175 spouse caregivers for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 88) and Parkinson's disease (PD; n = 87) were interviewed. Participants completed perceived stress (PSS), depression (CES-D), state anxiety (STAI, Form Y), and coping strategies (WCCL-R) measures. Results: Wives in the AD group reported significantly worse mental health outcomes than husbands, while wives and husbands in the PD group showed no differences. AD caregiving wives were less likely than husbands to use problem-focused coping strategies. There were no significant gender differences in either group for social support or emotion-focused coping. Implications:Loss of reciprocity in marital relationships may affect women more negatively than men. Future studies that address underlying mechanisms of gender differences and focus on similar caregiving situations and contexts deserve attention.
Key Words: Mental health • Coping strategies • Women • Gender differences
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. Zivin and N. A. Christakis The Emotional Toll of Spousal Morbidity and Mortality Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, September 1, 2007; 15(9): 772 - 779. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Pinquart and S. Sorensen Gender Differences in Caregiver Stressors, Social Resources, and Health: An Updated Meta-Analysis J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2006; 61(1): P33 - P45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. S. Kelley Elder Care Exchanges in a Caribbean Village West J Nurs Res, February 1, 2005; 27(1): 73 - 92. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. O'rourke Reliability Generalization of Responses by Care Providers to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale Educational and Psychological Measurement, December 1, 2004; 64(6): 973 - 990. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Fredman, S. Tennstedt, K. A. Smyth, J. D. Kasper, B. Miller, T. Fritsch, M. Watson, and E. L. Harris Pragmatic and Internal Validity Issues in Sampling in Caregiver Studies: A Comparison of Population-Based, Registry-Based, and Ancillary Studies J Aging Health, April 1, 2004; 16(2): 175 - 203. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. F. Mahoney, B. J. Tarlow, and R. N. Jones Effects of an Automated Telephone Support System on Caregiver Burden and Anxiety: Findings From the REACH for TLC Intervention Study Gerontologist, August 1, 2003; 43(4): 556 - 567. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Shifren and L. V. Kachorek Does early caregiving matter? The effects on young caregivers' adult mental health International Journal of Behavioral Development, July 1, 2003; 27(4): 338 - 346. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. B. Flannery Jr. Disrupted caring attachments: Implications for long-term care American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, July 1, 2002; 17(4): 227 - 231. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Stolley, D. Reed, and K. C. Buckwalter Caregiving appraisal and interventions based on the progressively lowered stress threshold model American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, March 1, 2002; 17(2): 110 - 120. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. J. Bauer, M. K. Maddox, L. N. Kirk, T. Burns, and M. A. Kuskowski Progressive dementia: Personal and relational impact on caregiving wives American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, November 1, 2001; 16(6): 329 - 334. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|---|
| All GSA journals | Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences | Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences |
