|
|
||||||||
Correspondence: Address correspondence to Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, PhD, Director, Older Adult and Family Center, and Associate Professor of Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine and VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, mail code 182C/MP, Menlo Park, CA 94025. E-mail: dolorest{at}stanford.edu
Purpose: Few empirical studies have compared the efficacy between psychoeducational (skill-building) approaches for reducing caregivers' psychological distress and interventions modeled after typical community-based support groups. We compare the impact of two distinct interventions on Anglo and Latino caregivers of elderly relatives with dementia. Design and Methods: The change from preassessment to postassessment (baseline to 3 months) for 213 female caregivers (122 Anglo and 91 Latino) is presented. They were seen weekly for 10 weeks in either the Coping With Caregiving psychoeducational program (instruction and practice in small groups to learn specific cognitive and behavioral skills) or in the Enhanced Support Group condition (guided discussion and empathic listening to develop reciprocal support within the group). Both programs were tailored to be sensitive to the cultural concerns of Anglo and Latino caregivers, and they were delivered in either English or Spanish by trained interventionists. Results: Overall, participants in the Coping With Caregiving condition reported a significant reduction in depressive symptoms, increased use of adaptive coping strategies, and a trend toward decreased use of negative coping strategies when compared with those in the Enhanced Support Group condition. Results were similar for both ethnic groups: there were no main effects for ethnicity, and no significant ethnicity by treatment interaction effects. Implications: This study provides empirical support that female caregivers benefit more from a skill-building approach to managing their distress than from support group membership alone. We find it very encouraging that the Latino caregivers responded well on key outcome variables, suggesting that Latinos will participate in clinical research and will benefit from their involvement when services are provided to meet their specific needs.
Key Words: Alzheimer's caregiving Interventions Latino issues Coping
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
Y. G. Rabinowitz, B. T. Mausbach, L. W. Thompson, and D. Gallagher-Thompson The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Cumulative Health Risk Associated With Health Behavior Patterns in Female Caregivers of Elderly Relatives With Alzheimer's Dementia J Aging Health, December 1, 2007; 19(6): 946 - 964. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
|
D. Gallagher-Thompson, H. L. Gray, P. C.Y. Tang, C. Y. Pu, L. Y.L. Leung, P.-C. Wang, C. Tse, S. Hsu, E. Kwo, H.-Q. Tong, et al. Impact of In-Home Behavioral Management Versus Telephone Support to Reduce Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Stress in Chinese Caregivers: Results of a Pilot Study Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, May 1, 2007; 15(5): 425 - 434. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
J. G. Gonyea, M. K. O'Connor, and P. A. Boyle Project CARE: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Behavioral Intervention Group for Alzheimer's Disease Caregivers Gerontologist, December 1, 2006; 46(6): 827 - 832. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
D. Gallagher-Thompson Caregiving Issues: Covering the Spectrum From Detection to End of Life Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, August 1, 2006; 14(8): 635 - 641. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
Y. G. Rabinowitz, B. T. Mausbach, D. W. Coon, C. Depp, L. W. Thompson, and D. Gallagher-Thompson The Moderating Effect of Self-Efficacy on Intervention Response in Women Family Caregivers of Older Adults With Dementia Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, August 1, 2006; 14(8): 642 - 649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
B. T. Mausbach, K. Aschbacher, T. L. Patterson, S. Ancoli-Israel, R. von Kanel, P. J. Mills, J. E. Dimsdale, and I. Grant Avoidant Coping Partially Mediates the Relationship Between Patient Problem Behaviors and Depressive Symptoms in Spousal Alzheimer Caregivers Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, April 1, 2006; 14(4): 299 - 306. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
M. Pinquart and S. Sorensen Ethnic Differences in Stressors, Resources, and Psychological Outcomes of Family Caregiving: A Meta-Analysis Gerontologist, February 1, 2005; 45(1): 90 - 106. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
D. W. Coon, L. Thompson, A. Steffen, K. Sorocco, and D. Gallagher-Thompson Anger and Depression Management: Psychoeducational Skill Training Interventions for Women Caregivers of a Relative With Dementia Gerontologist, October 1, 2003; 43(5): 678 - 689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
R. Schulz, L. Burgio, R. Burns, C. Eisdorfer, D. Gallagher-Thompson, L. N. Gitlin, and D. F. Mahoney Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH): Overview, Site-Specific Outcomes, and Future Directions Gerontologist, August 1, 2003; 43(4): 514 - 520. [Full Text] [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 |