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Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
Characterizing dementia caregiver style in managing care challenges: Cognitive and behavioral components
Dementia (London, England), v 20(6), pp 2188-2204
01 Aug 2021
PMID: 33517792
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background
Caring for a person living with dementia can take a physical and emotional toll, but understudied is the process by which family caregivers actually provide care. Caregiver management styles may vary and affect care decision-making, experiences, receptivity to and participation in interventions, and outcomes for the caregiver and person living with dementia.
Methods
Participants included 100 primary family caregivers for persons with dementia who were on average 64 years old and had been providing care for 55 months, 74% women, and 18% nonwhite. Participants were interviewed in Michigan and Ohio regarding their cognitive and behavioral management of a recent care challenge and values guiding their decision-making. The rigorous and accelerated data reduction technique was used to analyze qualitative data leading to the identification of caregiving styles. Styles were compared across sample characteristics using chi-square and ANOVA tests.
Findings
Five distinct styles emerged: "Externalizers" (superficial understanding, self-focused, and frequent expressions of anger or frustration), "Individualists" (provide care by going alone, emotionally removed, and lack management strategies), "Learners" (recognize need to change their approach but are stuck and emotionally turbulent), "Nurturers" (positive affect and empathy toward care and reflect natural mastery), and "Adapters" (arsenal of acquired management strategies and adapt to challenges). Style groups differed significantly in terms of age and use of formal care supports.
Discussion
We identified five distinct styles by which caregivers addressed care challenges using a robust qualitative methodology. Styles may be important to identify in order to better tailor interventions to needs and abilities.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Characterizing dementia caregiver style in managing care challenges: Cognitive and behavioral components
- Creators
- Amanda N. Leggett - University of Michigan–Ann ArborBenjamin C. Bugajski - University of Michigan–Ann ArborLaura N. Gitlin - Drexel UniversityHelen C. Kales - University of California, Davis
- Publication Details
- Dementia (London, England), v 20(6), pp 2188-2204
- Publisher
- Sage
- Number of pages
- 17
- Grant note
- University of Michigan Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Program for Positive Aging at the University of Michigan K01AG056557 / National Institute on Aging; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA) R01 AG049692; R01 AG041781 / National Institute on Aging Grants; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Nursing and Health Professions
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000619999400001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85100503609
- Other Identifier
- 991019168787504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Gerontology