Journal article
Unmet Expectations in Alzheimer’s Family Caregiving: Interactional Characteristics Associated With Perceived Under-Contribution
The Gerontologist, Vol.58(2), pp.e46-e55
03/19/2018
DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnx141
PMCID: PMC5946853
PMID: 28961867
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Objectives
Perceptions about family members not contributing enough to caregiving are documented to create psychological stress among caregivers. This study investigated whether individuals’ perception that family members are under-contributing in caregiving processes was associated with their psychological well-being and explored the factors that may contribute to such perception borrowing concepts from a previous study: malfeasance, nonfeasance, and uplift.
Research Design and Methods
Seventy-two members of 30 families recruited through residential and adult daycare settings provided information about 960 familial network members (e.g., family, friends). Perceived levels of participation in caregiving about each network member, whether the level met respondents’ expectations, and interactions representing malfeasance, nonfeasance, and uplift were assessed.
Results
Number of family members respondents identified as under-contributing in caregiving was associated with higher, whereas numbers of family participating in caregiving and supportive staff were associated with lower distress (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D]). Factor analyses identified a set of social interactions among familial network members capturing three constructs: malfeasance, nonfeasance, and uplift. Network members for whom respondents reported higher levels of nonfeasance were more likely to be identified as under-contributing in direct care (odds ratio [OR] = 1.92), care decision making (OR = 1.89), and social support (OR = 1.74) compared with those identified as contributing enough. Members with higher levels of malfeasance were more likely to be identified as under-contributing in direct care (OR = 1.19) than those identified as contributing enough.
Discussion and Implications
Social interactions characterized as nonfeasance may explain the perception of unmet expectations in caregiving within families and may represent a potential focus of family-level interventions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Unmet Expectations in Alzheimer’s Family Caregiving: Interactional Characteristics Associated With Perceived Under-Contribution
- Creators
- Sato Ashida - Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Aging Mind and Brain InitiativeChristopher Steven Marcum - Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MarylandLaura M Koehly - Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Gerontologist, Vol.58(2), pp.e46-e55
- DOI
- 10.1093/geront/gnx141
- PMID
- 28961867
- PMCID
- PMC5946853
- NLM abbreviation
- Gerontologist
- ISSN
- 0016-9013
- eISSN
- 1758-5341
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press; US
- Grant note
- ZIA HG200395 / National Institutes of Health (10.13039/100000002) National Human Genome Research Institute (10.13039/100000051)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/19/2018
- Academic Unit
- Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984063122602771
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