Files and links (1)
Lazarus_Lewis_19964.75 MB
PDF Restricted Access, VIEWABLE UPON REQUEST: contact archives@drexel.edu
Dissertation
Correlates of burden in spousal caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
Jul 1996
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00007395
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative disease which affects approximately 1% of the population over the age of 55. PD is characterized by four typical symptoms which are: tremor, rigidity, slowness in active movements (bradykinesia), and disturbances in gait and balance. In addition, the deterioration in physical functioning is often accompanied with specific neurobehavioral changes such as, visuospatial and memory deficits. Since the disease is usually manifested in older adults, most patients with PD are married and when they become ill, it is likely that they will be cared for by a partner. This situation has implications for examining risk factors related to institutionalization, sources for intervention, and the costs of providing care in the home. Fifty-two spouses of individuals with idiopathic PD were administered a series of self-report questionnaires focusing on their own general health, coping style, level of depression, and burden. These spouses were also given an inventory examining their partner's level of dependency and neurobehavioral status. PD patients were administered a standardized, gross measure of dementia and a self-report measure of depression. The findings of this study indicated that, unlike caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease, spouses of PD patients were most burdened by the dependency of the patient in performing activities of daily living with the patient's cognitive impairment being less instrumental. There were no significant differences between husbands and wives in terms of subjective burden, depression, social problem-solving, and general physical health. Coping strategies did not significantly contribute to explaining the variance in burden scores, however, certain styles of coping were significantly and positively correlated with increases in subjective burden. Results are discussed in the context of previous studies of caregiver burden in other populations, and implications for future research efforts are presented.
Metrics
18 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Correlates of burden in spousal caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease
- Creators
- Lewis A. Lazarus
- Awarding Institution
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- vi, 120 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences (1996-1998); Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; School of Health Professions (1996-1998)
- Other Identifier
- 991021889011104721